Additional Coverage:
A Justice Department employee, Sean Dunn, 37, was charged with misdemeanor assault after allegedly throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred on August 10th in the U Street Corridor, a historic neighborhood known for its vibrant nightlife.
Dunn was observed on video confronting federal agents stationed in the area, shouting expletives and protesting their presence. He then threw a sandwich, reportedly a salami sub, striking an agent in the chest. Dunn attempted to flee but was apprehended by officers at the scene.
The incident followed President Trump’s deployment of increased federal law enforcement to D.C. to address crime, a move criticized by some as unnecessary given existing crime trends.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Dunn’s employment with the Justice Department at the time of the incident and announced his immediate termination. Bondi stated that disrespect towards law enforcement would not be tolerated within the administration.
While some residents viewed Dunn’s actions as symbolic resistance against the increased federal presence, others supported the law enforcement officers. Street art depicting the sandwich-throwing incident has appeared throughout the city.
Initially, federal prosecutors sought a felony assault charge against Dunn, requiring a grand jury indictment. However, the grand jury declined to indict, suggesting insufficient probable cause for the felony charge.
This follows a similar pattern of grand juries declining to indict in other recent cases involving alleged assaults on federal agents during protests in D.C. The decisions reflect growing local opposition to the surge in federal law enforcement presence, which has been criticized as a needless and racially motivated intimidation tactic.
The misdemeanor charge, brought by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office, proceeds despite the failed felony indictment attempt.