Imagine a Subway sandwich becoming a weapon of felony assault—only for federal prosecutors to fumble the case before a grand jury.
According to New York Post, in a stunning turn of events, federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., couldn’t convince a grand jury this week to indict Sean Charles Dunn, a former Department of Justice employee, on felony assault charges after he hurled a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent on Aug. 10, 2025.
The bizarre incident unfolded on the corner of 14th and U Streets in the nation’s capital, where a viral video captured Dunn, 37, appearing intoxicated and shouting at federal agents, calling them “fascists” before launching his edible projectile.
“I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn bellowed during the confrontation, a sentiment that might resonate with some frustrated by the heavy federal presence, though his method of protest was, shall we say, less than appetizing.
After the sandwich toss, Dunn confessed to a D.C. police officer with a casual, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.” One wonders if he expected a medal for honesty or just a side of chips for his bravado.
Cortez Dargin, a local who recorded the incident, noted, “He asked me, ‘What car did the feds pull up in?’” Dargin’s footage, meant as a sobering wake-up call for Dunn, instead became a viral reminder of how quickly bad decisions can escalate in today’s tense climate.
Three days after the sandwich incident, on Aug. 13, 2025, Dunn was arrested in a dramatic night raid by six U.S. Marshals at his apartment, located just a mile northwest of the White House.
He was initially charged with felony assault, a serious accusation for what some might call a deli-driven tantrum, though the gravity of targeting a federal officer cannot be understated in a city on edge.
Dunn, previously an international affairs specialist in the DOJ’s criminal division handling extradition cases, found his career sandwich-smashed as Attorney General Pam Bondi declared on X, “I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice — NO LONGER.”
Bondi didn’t mince words, adding, “If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you.” It’s a clear message to those who might mistake federal agents for piñatas, though one hopes cooler heads prevail over such petty provocations.
D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro piled on via a video on X, stating, “He thought it was funny.” Her follow-up that Dunn no longer finds it amusing after facing felony charges—now dropped—underscores a zero-tolerance approach that some might see as overreach for a bread-based offense.
The grand jury’s refusal to indict on felony charges, as reported by major outlets like the New York Times and NBC News on Wednesday, leaves questions about whether prosecutors will pivot to lesser charges like simple assault, though no decision has been confirmed.
Dunn’s case isn’t an isolated flare-up, as another high-profile incident saw Emily Gabriella Sommer charged in May 2025 for spitting on then-interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin during a live TV interview, later pleading guilty to multiple assault counts on Aug. 14, 2025.
With President Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 and a surge of over 850 federal agents deployed to D.C. since Aug. 11, 2025, resulting in more than 1,000 arrests, the city feels like a pressure cooker where even a sandwich can ignite controversy.
As Dunn awaits a preliminary hearing before D.C. Magistrate Judge G. M. Harvey on Sept. 4, 2025, at 3 p.m., this case serves as a peculiar footnote in a broader battle over law enforcement’s role—a reminder that while progressive agendas may decry federal overreach, disrespecting officers, even with lunch, won’t be taken lightly.
