D.C. jury seated as 'sandwich guy' federal criminal trial begins

"The trial, expected to last two days, stems from an August incident captured on video that shows Dunn allegedly tossing a wrapped sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during a Trump administration surge of federal agents into D.C.'s U Street corridor. Judge Carl Nichols, overseeing the case, described it as "the simplest case in the world," the Associated Press reports."

"Prosecutors initially sought a felony assault charge, but a federal grand jury declined to indict Dunn, forcing the Justice Department to downgrade the case to a misdemeanor. According to court documents, Dunn, 37, who worked in the DOJ's Criminal Division, admitted to throwing the sandwich but said he meant no harm. Dunn was fired from the DOJ shortly after the incident."

"For the prosecution, Dunn's actions constitute an assault on a federal officer. For his defenders, and many in D.C., the episode reflects something larger: a city's unease with the visible presence of militarized federal forces patrolling local neighborhoods, particularly those known for their Black, LGBTQ+, and nightlife communities. During jury selection, attorneys questioned potential jurors about their exposure to media coverage and their opinions on federal law enforcement. Many acknowledged familiarity with the viral video that earned Dunn the moniker "sandwich guy" online."

A Washington, D.C., jury was chosen for the trial of Sean Dunn, a former Justice Department employee accused of throwing a Subway sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer during an August surge of federal agents on U Street. Prosecutors sought a felony but a grand jury declined to indict, so the charge was downgraded to a misdemeanor. Court documents say Dunn admitted throwing the sandwich and said he meant no harm; Dunn was later fired from the DOJ. The case has become a focal point for debates over militarized federal forces in Black, LGBTQ+, and nightlife neighborhoods. Jury selection probed jurors' media exposure and views of federal law enforcement.

Read at Advocate.com