DC Man Found Not Guilty After Tossing Sandwich at Federal Agent During Trump-Era Crackdown [Video]

Sean Charles Dunn, a former paralegal for the Justice Department, was found not guilty of assault on Thursday after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during one of President Trump’s controversial law enforcement surges in Washington, DC.

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The incident, which was caught on video and quickly went viral, made Dunn a face of protest against the deployment of federal agents in the city. On the night of August 10, 2020, Dunn launched the sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer stationed outside a club during “Latin Night.” While the throw was never in dispute, Dunn’s legal team argued it was a symbolic act of protest protected by the First Amendment.

Prosecutors initially pursued a felony assault charge, but a grand jury refused to indict. They ultimately settled on a misdemeanor. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, appointed by Trump, responded to the jury’s decision, saying, “As always, we accept a jury’s verdict…However, law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how ‘minor.’ Even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another.”

The CBP agent testified, “You could smell the onions and the mustard,” and recalled how the sandwich “exploded” on his chest, even through his vest.

After the verdict, Dunn said, “I’m relieved and I’m looking forward to moving on with my life,” adding that he acted to protect immigrant rights: “Every life matters… You have the right to live a life that is free.”