WASHINGTON — Throwing a sandwich at a federal agent turned Sean Charles Dunn into an emblem of resistance in opposition to US President Donald Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital. This week, federal prosecutors try to influence a jury of fellow Washington, DC, residents that Dunn merely broke the regulation.
That could possibly be a troublesome promote for the federal government in a metropolis that has chafed in opposition to Trump’s federal takeover getting into its third month. A grand jury refused to indict Dunn on a felony assault depend earlier than US Legal professional Jeanine Pirro’s workplace opted to cost him as an alternative with a misdemeanor.
Securing a trial conviction may show to be equally difficult for Justice Division prosecutors in Washington, the place murals glorifying Dunn’s sandwich toss popped up just about in a single day.
Earlier than jury choice began Monday (Nov 3), the decide presiding over Dunn’s trial appeared to acknowledge how uncommon it’s for a case like this to be heard in federal court docket. US District Choose Carl Nichols, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, stated he expects the trial to final not more than two days “as a result of it’s the only case on this planet.”
A video that went viral on social media captured Dunn hurling his subway-style sandwich at a Customs and Border Safety agent outdoors a nightclub on the evening of Aug 10. That very same weekend, Trump introduced his deployment of a whole lot of Nationwide Guard troops and federal brokers to help with police patrols in Washington.
When Dunn approached a gaggle of CBP brokers who have been in entrance of a membership internet hosting a “Latin Night time,” he referred to as them “fascists” and “racists” and chanted “disgrace” towards them. An observer’s video captured Dunn throwing a sandwich at an agent’s chest.
“Why are you right here? I don’t need you in my metropolis!” Dunn shouted, in line with police.
Dunn ran away however was apprehended. He was launched from custody however rearrested when a group of armed federal brokers in riot gear raided his residence. The White Home posted a extremely produced “propaganda” video of the raid on its official X account, Dunn’s attorneys stated. They famous that Dunn had supplied to give up to police earlier than the raid.
“EXAMPLE OF THE DEEP STATE”
Dunn labored as a global affairs specialist within the Justice Division’s prison division. After Dunn’s arrest, Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi introduced his firing in a social media put up that referred to him as “an instance of the Deep State.”
Earlier than trial, Dunn’s attorneys urged the decide to dismiss the case for what they allege is a vindictive and selective prosecution. They argued the posts by Bondi and the White Home show Dunn was impermissibly focused for his political speech.
Julia Gatto, considered one of Dunn’s attorneys, questioned why Trump’s Justice Division is prosecuting Dunn after the Republican president issued pardons and ordered the dismissal of assault circumstances stemming from a mob’s assault on the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021.
“It’s an apparent reply,” Gatto stated throughout a listening to final Thursday. “The reply is that they have completely different politics. And that’s selective prosecution.”
Prosecutors countered that Dunn’s political expressions don’t make him immune from prosecution for assaulting the agent.
“The defendant is being prosecuted for the plain motive that he was recorded throwing a sandwich at a federal officer at point-blank vary,” they wrote.
Dunn is charged with assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with a federal officer. Dozens of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol have been convicted of felonies for assaulting or interfering with police throughout the Jan 6 assault. Trump pardoned or ordered the dismissal of fees for all of them.
