D.C. Jury Acquits Man of Misdemeanor Assault in 'Sandwich Incident'

A Washington D.C. jury has found Sean Dunn not guilty of misdemeanor assault after he was accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, concludes a high-profile trial that stemmed from an August incident and garnered significant public attention. Lawfare reported via X, "> Today a D.C. jury found the man who threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol officer not guilty on a misdemeanor assault charge."

The incident occurred on August 10 in a busy nightlife district, where Dunn, then a Justice Department paralegal, confronted a group of federal agents. He allegedly shouted expletives and threw a Subway sandwich at CBP Agent Gregory Lairmore. This event took place amidst the Trump administration's deployment of federal agents and National Guard troops to Washington D.C., which sparked outrage among some residents who viewed it as a politicization of the military.

Prosecutors initially sought felony charges against Dunn, but a grand jury declined to indict him, leading to the misdemeanor assault charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo argued that Dunn caused a "seven-minute disturbance" and crossed a line by throwing the sandwich. However, defense attorneys did not dispute that Dunn threw the sandwich but contended it did not constitute a criminal act, with lawyer Sabrina Shroff stating, "This case, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is about a sandwich."

Agent Lairmore testified that the sandwich "exploded all over" his chest, claiming he could smell mustard and onions and felt the impact through his ballistic vest. The defense highlighted that Lairmore received "gag gifts" from colleagues, such as a plush sandwich and a "Felony Footlong" patch, suggesting the incident was not serious. Dunn's legal team characterized the prosecution as a "blatant abuse of power," arguing the act was not forcible.

Sean Dunn, quickly dubbed the "Sandwich Guy," became a symbol of resistance against the federal presence in D.C., with images of the incident appearing in murals and on merchandise. Following his acquittal, Dunn expressed relief, telling reporters, "I'm relieved and looking forward to moving on with my life." He had been fired from his position at the Department of Justice after the incident.