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WASHINGTON D.C. – In a verdict that left some scratching their heads and others cheering, “sandwich guy” Sean Dunn was found not guilty Thursday after being accused of chucking a Subway sandwich at a federal officer. It seems the jury had no appetite for the Justice Department’s case, deliberating for several hours before delivering their decision.
The incident, which took place in the lively U Street nightlife area back in August, saw Dunn, a former Justice Department paralegal, facing a single misdemeanor charge. This came after a federal grand jury had already rejected more serious accusations.
Border Patrol Officer Greg Lairmore, the alleged target of the airborne sub, even received a couple of “gag gifts” related to the event: a plush sandwich and a patch featuring a cartoon of Dunn in mid-throw, emblazoned with “Felony Footlong.” The defense team pointed to these as proof that the event wasn’t exactly a life-altering moment for Lairmore.
Lairmore himself testified that the sandwich “exploded all over” his chest, claiming he could even smell mustard and onions. However, a photo presented in court showed the sandwich still neatly wrapped on the ground after it allegedly made contact with Lairmore’s bulletproof vest.
Dunn quickly became an unexpected symbol of resistance in Washington during the Trump administration. Murals depicting a man throwing a sandwich popped up around the city, and people even placed sandwiches in the hands of giant skeletons for Halloween.
Speaking to NBC News, Sean Dunn admitted it was “heartening” to receive so much support from his fellow Washingtonians, but he’s “not comfortable” with the “hero” label. When asked if he thought the verdict was a form of dissent against the federal takeover of the city (residents here lack full representation in Congress), he offered a thoughtful, “Perhaps.”
This isn’t the first time grand juries in Washington have rejected cases brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which has been led by two Trump loyalists, Ed Martin and currently Jeanine Pirro, during the Trump administration.
In a written statement, Pirro said, “As always, we accept a jury’s verdict; that is the system within which we function. 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.”
During closing arguments, defense attorney Sabrina Shroff kept it simple, arguing that a sandwich just couldn’t cause harm. “This case, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is about a sandwich,” she declared.