Washington DC man who threw sandwich at federal agent faces trial for assault

"Throwing a sandwich at a federal agent turned Sean Charles Dunn into a symbol of resistance against Donald Trump's law-enforcement surge in the nation's capital. This week, federal prosecutors are trying to persuade a jury of fellow Washington DC residents that Dunn simply broke the law. That could be a tough sell for the government in a city that has chafed against Trump's federal takeover, which is entering its third month."

"A grand jury refused to indict Dunn on a felony assault count before the office of Jeanine Pirro, a US attorney, opted to charge him instead with a misdemeanor. Securing a trial conviction could prove to be equally challenging for justice department prosecutors in Washington, where murals glorifying Dunn's sandwich toss popped up virtually overnight. Before jury selection started on Monday, the judge presiding over Dunn's trial seemed to acknowledge how unusual it is for a case like this to be heard in federal court."

"US district Judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, said he expects the trial to last no more than two days because it's the simplest case in the world. A video that went viral on social media captured Dunn hurling his Subway-style sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent outside a nightclub on the night of 10 August. That same weekend, Trump announced his deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops and federal agents to assist with police patrols."

Sean Charles Dunn threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent outside a nightclub, later becoming a symbol of resistance to a federal law-enforcement surge in Washington. A video of the incident went viral and murals celebrating the sandwich toss appeared across the city. A grand jury declined to indict on a felony assault charge, but the US attorney's office filed a misdemeanor. The trial began amid debate over federal enforcement in the city; US District Judge Carl Nichols predicted a short trial. Dunn was apprehended at the scene, released, then rearrested after an armed federal raid on his home.

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