Introduction to the Incident
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office on Thursday charged a man accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent in Washington D.C. earlier this month with misdemeanor assault, issuing the charge one day after failing to convince a grand jury to return a felony indictment against the alleged assailant.
Details of the Incident
Sean Dunn, who Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed was a Justice Department employee at the time of the incident, was seen in a now-viral video throwing a salami sub at the immigration agent, days after President Donald Trump directed the deployment of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement personnel to D.C. Trump framed the move as an effort to address crime in the city, despite data suggesting criminal activity was already trending downward.
According to a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors, Dunn, 37, confronted federal agents stationed outside of a popular nightlife area.
Confrontation and Arrest
“F— you! You f—ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn yelled at officers, before throwing a sandwich that struck one Customs and Border Patrol agent in the chest.
Dunn attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended and arrested by officers on the scene, the complaint indicated.
Background of the Incident
The incident took place on Aug. 10, in the heart of D.C.’s U Street corridor, a neighborhood that played a historic role in the civil rights era and is now a nightlife hotspot.
A Justice Department employee told NBC News that Dunn at the time worked in the international affairs section of the criminal division at the Justice Department.
Aftermath and Reaction
After the alleged assault, Bondi said Dunn was promptly fired from the department, later writing in a statement, "you will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement."
Some D.C. residents heralded Dunn for the alleged assault, raising video of the incident as a symbol of resistance to Trump and his deployment of thousands of federal law enforcement personnel to the city. Banksy-inspired illustrations of a man throwing a sub have begun to pop up on walls throughout D.C., the Washingtonian magazine reported.
Legal Proceedings
Federal prosecutors initially sought to charge Dunn with felony assault, which requires a grand jury indictment from a panel of Washington residents. But a jury on Wednesday declined to return an indictment against Dunn, an implicit suggestion that residents did not identify sufficient probable cause to back the charge.
The decision is not the first time a D.C. grand jury has opted against signing off on charges, with prosecutors repeatedly failing to secure a felony indictment against a woman who was arrested for allegedly assaulting FBI agents during an immigration-related protest last month, The New York Times reported.
Wider Context and Implications
The jury’s decision also signaled mounting backlash among D.C. residents to Trump’s surge of federal law enforcement personnel, which critics have panned as unnecessary, a scare tactic and racially motivated.
President Donald Trump highlighted plans to invest in infrastructure and law enforcement in Washington, D.C., calling it a model for other cities across the country. “Instead of saying, ‘He’s a dictator,’ they should say, ‘We’re going to join him and make Washington safe.’”
Conclusion
The incident and its aftermath highlight the tensions between the federal government and D.C. residents, particularly in the context of President Trump’s deployment of federal law enforcement personnel to the city. The decision by the grand jury not to indict Dunn on felony charges reflects the complex and often contentious nature of these issues.
FAQs
Q: What was Sean Dunn charged with?
A: Sean Dunn was charged with misdemeanor assault for throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent.
Q: Why was Dunn initially sought to be charged with felony assault?
A: Federal prosecutors initially sought to charge Dunn with felony assault because it is a more serious offense that requires a grand jury indictment.
Q: What was the reaction of D.C. residents to the incident?
A: Some D.C. residents heralded Dunn for the alleged assault, seeing it as a symbol of resistance to Trump’s deployment of federal law enforcement personnel to the city.
Q: What are the implications of the grand jury’s decision not to indict Dunn on felony charges?
A: The decision reflects the mounting backlash among D.C. residents to Trump’s surge of federal law enforcement personnel and highlights the complex and often contentious nature of these issues.
