WASHINGTON — The man accused of throwing a sandwich at a federal agent last month pleaded not guilty Wednesday and requested a jury trial in his misdemeanor assault case.
Sean Dunn, 37, wearing a white button-down shirt with a blue tie, was largely stoic during the 10-minute hearing before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols.
Dunn pleaded not guilty, and Nichols set a trial date of Nov. 3.
Nichols asked whether Dunn sought to contest this charge before a jury or have a bench trial. Defense lawyer Sabrina P. Shroff said Dunn requested a jury trial.
Shroff and Dunn declined to answer reporters' questions outside court.
Dunn was seen in viral video hurling a salami sub at the immigration agent on Aug. 10, days after President Donald Trump directed sent federal authorities into D.C.
“F--- you! You f---ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” Dunn yelled at officers before he threw a sandwich that struck a Customs and Border Protection agent in the chest, prosecutors said.
The U.S. attorney's office pushed a felony case against Dunn, but a grand jury declined — despite the age-old mantra that prosecutors regularly get grand juries to indict a ham sandwich.
The felony failure, though, hasn't stopped U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office from seeking a misdemeanor assault case.
Trump has claimed his actions were necessary to fight crime in the district, even though data has shown decreasing criminal activity in the city.
He's now threatening to send federal forces into Chicago in another major urban areas that have experienced steep declines in crime despite Trump's claims otherwise.
Justin Goldman reported from Washington and David K. Li from New York City.
