Man who threw sandwich at US border agent not guilty of assault

November 6, 2025

A Washington DC jury acquitted Sean Dunn, a 37-year-old protester, of misdemeanor assault charges after he threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol agent during demonstrations against federal deployments in the city. While Dunn's legal team acknowledged he threw the sandwich at Agent Gregory Lairmore in August, they successfully argued the act did not constitute a criminal offense. Prosecutors had initially sought felony charges, but a grand jury refused to indict, leading to reduced misdemeanor charges instead.

Who is affected

Sean Dunn (the protester who was acquitted but lost his Department of Justice job)
Customs and Border Patrol Agent Gregory Lairmore (who was hit by the sandwich and became subject to workplace jokes)
Washington DC residents (who opposed the federal troop deployment)
Agent Lairmore's colleagues (who made jokes about the incident)

What action is being taken

No actions are explicitly described as currently ongoing in the article.

Why it matters

This case highlights tensions between local residents and federal law enforcement during controversial deployments ordered by President Trump. The verdict demonstrates how juries may interpret physical acts during protests, distinguishing between political expression and criminal conduct. The incident also illustrates the broader debate about federal intervention in local jurisdictions and the militarization of responses to civil unrest. The case's viral nature and legal outcome may influence how similar protest-related incidents are prosecuted in the future.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC