Jury selection commenced Monday in the trial of Sean Charles Dunn, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) employee, who is facing charges of assaulting a federal Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent by throwing a sandwich at the officer’s face during a protest against President Donald J. Trump’s immigration enforcement policies in Washington, D.C., in August 2023.
The incident occurred outside a nightclub hosting “Latin Night,” where video footage showed Dunn hurling a “submarine-style sandwich” at a CBP agent while shouting accusations of racism and fascism. He reportedly yelled, “Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” The clip later went viral.
U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, described the case as “the simplest case in the world,” predicting it would last no more than two days. Dunn, who was subsequently fired by then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, faced criticism from her office, which labeled him an example of the “Deep State.”
Prosecutors argue that Dunn’s political views do not excuse his actions, stating he was recorded throwing a sandwich at a federal officer at point-blank range. His defense team, however, claims the case is politically motivated, citing selective enforcement and contrasting it with Trump’s pardons for January 6-related cases. They contend the prosecution reflects “different politics” rather than legitimate legal grounds.
Dunn faces multiple charges, including assaulting, resisting, and interfering with a federal officer. The trial proceeds as federal prosecutors seek a conviction despite a prior grand jury’s decision not to indict him on felony counts.
