A federal grand jury in Washington declined to indict a former Justice Department paralegal accused of hurling a salami sandwich at one of the federal officers President Donald Trump has deployed in the nation’s capital.
The unusual decision not to indict Sean Dunn, 37, was first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by two people familiar with the matter. Dunn had been charged with felony assault on law enforcement after the Aug. 10 incident, which was captured on video and quickly went viral.
The sandwich-throwing encounter took place near 14th and U Streets NW — a historic corridor of the civil rights era and one of the city’s busiest nightlife districts.
“F— you! You f—ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn shouted at officers, according to video posted online. Moments later, he tossed the hoagie at an officer’s chest and fled before being arrested nearby.
Fired from DOJ, embraced as protest symbol
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Dunn was terminated from his Justice Department job, where he worked as a paralegal. The White House amplified his arrest by posting a stylized social media video that portrayed the sandwich-throw as a serious assault.
But in D.C., Dunn became a folk-hero symbol of defiance. Washingtonian magazine dubbed him “DC’s Hero,” and Banksy-style graffiti of a man hurling a sandwich has appeared across the city.
Rare setback for prosecutors
Federal prosecutors typically face little resistance when presenting cases to grand juries, which need only find probable cause — a far lower standard than trial. The refusal to indict Dunn marks at least the second time this summer that Washington grand jurors have rebuffed prosecutors seeking charges against residents who confronted federal officers.
Prosecutors previously failed to secure an indictment against a woman accused of assaulting an FBI agent during an immigration protest.
The grand jury’s reluctance underscores a broader tension in the city, where Trump’s deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops — particularly to focus on immigration enforcement — has drawn strong resistance from residents and local leaders.
What’s next for Dunn
The charges against Dunn were initially filed by criminal complaint, but under the Speedy Trial Act prosecutors must secure an indictment within 30 days. Dunn is scheduled to appear in federal court on Sept. 4.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors will present the case to another grand jury. If they fail again, they could reduce the charges to a misdemeanor, which still carries up to a year in prison.
