A trial has commenced for a man accused of launching a sandwich at a federal officer in Washington, D.C., back in August.
Sean Charles Dunn, 37, entered a not guilty plea to misdemeanor assault charges in September after a grand jury opted not to indict him on a felony charge. This incident became emblematic of local opposition to President Trump’s military presence in the capital.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, anticipated that the trial would wrap up within two days, stating it was “the simplest case in the world,” according to reports.
Jury selection is set to start on Monday, with public statements planned for Tuesday.
Last month, Dunn’s legal team attempted to have the case dismissed, labeling it a “blatant abuse of power.” They argued that the federal prosecution of what they considered a trivial act might have an underlying retaliatory motive, posing risks to Dunn’s well-being.
According to his lawyers, Dunn’s act of throwing a sandwich at a heavily armed Customs and Border Protection officer would not normally lead to federal charges—except for the accompanying political sentiment, they insisted.
The defense further stated that the prosecution appeared to have a “discriminatory purpose,” violating Dunn’s First and Fifth Amendment rights. They noted the stark contrast in the treatment of those charged after the January 6, 2021, Capitol invasion, who were granted pardons by President Trump.
“The incident involving Mr. Dunn led to the mobilization of a heavily armed SWAT team,” his attorney pointed out. They compared Dunn’s situation to that of other defendants who faced far graver actions yet had their charges dismissed and were pardoned.
Prosecutors countered in their memo that Dunn was charged specifically due to being recorded throwing a sandwich at a federal officer at close range. They maintained that there was no evidence of discriminatory motives behind the prosecution.
On August 10, Dunn reportedly shouted at several individuals near the corner of 14th Street and U Street, expressing his discontent about their presence in his city.
Following Dunn’s protest against the federalization of local police and the activation of the National Guard, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth extended the National Guard’s deployment in Washington, D.C., through February.
