Former DOJ paralegal found not guilty after sandwich toss during Trump-era law enforcement surge
A Washington jury on Thursday acquitted Sean Charles Dunn, a former Justice Department paralegal, of a misdemeanor assault charge after he threw a sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent during the heightened federal deployment to the capital under President Donald Trump.
What happened
Video of the Aug. 10 incident circulated widely online and helped make Dunn a symbol of opposition to the federal deployment. There was no dispute that Dunn threw the sandwich at CBP Agent Gregory Lairmore; prosecutors argued the act constituted an intentional assault, while defense attorneys said it was a harmless gesture of political protest protected by the First Amendment.
"I did it. I threw a sandwich. I did it to draw them away from where they were. I succeeded," Dunn said on body-camera footage played for jurors after his arrest.
Legal path and courtroom highlights
Prosecutors initially sought a felony assault indictment, but a grand jury declined to return that charge. The U.S. Attorney’s office then filed a misdemeanor count. During trial, defense lawyers argued the prosecution was selective and politically motivated, pointing to social media posts and a White House video related to the raid on Dunn’s home after his arrest.
After the jury returned the not-guilty verdict, Dunn embraced his attorneys and told reporters he was "relieved" and eager to move forward. He said his actions were intended to call attention to immigrants’ rights, invoking the motto "e pluribus unum."
Reactions and context
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her office accepted the jury’s decision but also stressed that "law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how 'minor.'" She added, "even children know when they are angry, they are not allowed to throw objects at one another." CBP agent Lairmore testified the sandwich hit his chest hard enough that he could feel it through his ballistic vest and that he could smell the onions and mustard afterward. Colleagues later gave him gibesome mementos including a sandwich-shaped plush and a patch labeled "felony footlong."
Dunn was briefly detained at the scene, released, and then rearrested after armed federal agents executed a search of his home. His defense asked the judge to dismiss charges as vindictive and selective prosecution tied to his political speech. Dunn did not testify at trial.
Broader implications
The case has become part of a larger conversation about the scope and tactics of federal law enforcement during the Trump administration's deployments in the capital. The report also noted contrasting outcomes in other politically charged prosecutions, including convictions tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and subsequent pardons or dismissals ordered by former President Trump.
Key facts:
- Defendant: Sean Charles Dunn, former Justice Department paralegal
- Charge: Misdemeanor assault on a federal officer (acquitted)
- Incident date: Aug. 10 (year specified in original report)
- Officer involved: CBP Agent Gregory Lairmore
