Jury Acquits Former DOJ Official in Sandwich Incident

A jury found a former Department of Justice official not guilty on Thursday for throwing a sandwich at a federal employee in Washington, D.C., as reported by The Washington Post.

Sean Dunn, an international affairs expert, faced misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident in August. After deliberating for seven hours over two days, the jury concluded he was not guilty. Dunn had aimed the sandwich at Customs and Border Protection officers as a form of protest against what he described as fascism and the deportation of immigrants.

Dunn admitted in a video played for the jury, “I did it. I threw the sandwich. I did it to get them out of where they were, and I was successful.” His attorney confirmed his actions in her opening statement, mentioning her strong feelings regarding former President Donald Trump’s policies. In August, Trump had announced plans to intensify crime-fighting efforts in D.C. by boosting federal law enforcement presence and deploying the National Guard to ensure safety in public spaces.

Before the sandwich toss, Dunn reportedly shouted profanities, referring to the federal agents as “fascists,” according to court documents. The alleged victim noted that the sandwich “detonated” on him, leaving behind an onion string caught near his radio.

Following his arrest, Dunn was dismissed from the DOJ in August. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “If you touch a law enforcement officer, we will go after you.” Initially facing felony assault charges, grand jurors ultimately rejected those, leading prosecutors to reduce the charges to misdemeanors.