‘It smelled of onions and mustard,’ Border Patrol officer hit by sandwich in DC testifies

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/sandwich-thrower-case-washington

“He did it. He threw the sandwich.”

That’s how the defense counsel for Sean Dunn, the man who threw a sub-style sandwich at a Border Patrol officer in Washington, DC, this summer began the federal trial against him Tuesday morning.

724 points · 111 comments · view on lemmy.world

111 Comments

klemptor@startrek.website · 252 pts · 279d (28 replies)

I cannot believe we're wasting taxpayer dollars on a ballistic hoagie attack.

socsa@piefed.social · 172 pts · 279d (6 replies)

Assault with a deli weapon

klemptor@startrek.website · 50 pts · 279d

samus12345@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 278d

Top-tier pun!

DrDystopia@lemy.lol · 11 pts · 278d (1 reply)

This is so good it should be illegal.

HowAbt2day@futurology.today · 1 pts · 278d

Give the DOJ(ackoffs) a week or two and it will be.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 278d

intercontinental ballistic mayonaisse

Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 278d

...take my upvote...

some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world · 81 pts · 279d (7 replies)

"ballistic submarine missile" was right there

klemptor@startrek.website · 9 pts · 279d

D'oh!

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 278d (5 replies)

torpedos away

Vandals_handle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d (4 replies)

ICE agents prefer Grinder

jaennaet@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 278d (3 replies)
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Vandals_handle@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

No, every representation of human sexuality can be beautiful (with consent that is). Just wordplay with one of the multiple terms for sub, hero, blimp, torpedo and yes, grinder.

some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

It's not being gay, it's being a bunch of hypocrites about being gay that deserves the ridicule

stinky@redlemmy.com · 1 pts · 262d

Hi, wanted to ask how you want me to handle this report? https://i.ibb.co/rGRqTJTt/1.png

You reported me, on my own instance, to myself... guess I'm not sure what you want me to do here? Do you think "hostility" is a violation of my instance's sidebar rules? If not, can you tell me which of my own rules I've broken? I'm eager to hear your response. :)

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world · 50 pts · 279d (7 replies)

I'm sure we all know the phrase that a prosecutor could get a grand jury to "indict a ham sandwich". It took prosecutors THREE Grand Juries to finally get an indictment for someone throwing that sandwich.

It's all a complete waste of time and taxpayer funds, and in any other point in history these prosecutors would have been fired immediately for incompetence at even considering an indictment in the first place, not even considering the possibility that they would try for three attempts.

mercano@lemmy.world · 59 pts · 279d (4 replies)

They never got the indictment. The prosecutor had to downgrade the charges from a felony to a misdemeanor, which doesn’t have to go before a grand jury.

halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 279d (1 reply)

I didn't even realize that, last I had heard was them putting it before the third jury, and then that there was going to be a trial.

DipshitDetector@lemy.lol · 1 pts · 278d
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HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d (1 reply)

if a grand jury won't indict, doesn't double jeopardy apply? not a lawyer, just haven't dealt with this part of the process before

austinfloyd@ttrpg.network · 3 pts · 278d

A grand jury is a sort of sanity check on a charge, and does not count towards the trial. It is basically "with these facts (provided only by the prosecution), is there enough probable cause to move a case to trial?". Double jeopardy in the 5th amendment has specific protections from going to trial multiple times or from getting multiple punishments for a crime.

gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 279d (1 reply)

Actually, it's even stupider than that I'm pretty sure, two grand juries refused to give them an indictment for a felony charge, so they brought a way less severe misdemeanor charge because you don't have to get a grand jury to sign off on those, and that's what we're wasting this time on

archonet@lemy.lol · 8 pts · 278d

As it so happens, they can indict ham sandwiches, but not turkey subs. And I think this is arguably funnier.

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 279d

I hope a news outlet has the boldness to run this story after one showing DHS brutality, including the taxpayer costs, and before one about SNAP, healthcare and the shutdown. This administration is well past the point of pissing on Americans while telling them it's raining.

derry@midwest.social · 15 pts · 279d

Dear Lord don't you know this will lead to ICBMs! Intercontinental ballistic meatballs are nothing to be trifled with. Next they'll add mozzarella to them

0ops@piefed.zip · 13 pts · 279d

ballistic hoagie attack

Band name

sudo@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 278d

It's just a shame it wasn't a lead sandwich traveling at 1500 fps

milkisklim@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

If it makes you feel any better, because of the shutdown, we aren't spending money on this. \s

JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca · 185 pts · 279d (12 replies)

I hope the people around him never let him live a minute without being reminded about what a weak little boy he is for whining about taking a soft, succulent sub to the shoulder.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 128 pts · 279d (6 replies)

Navy should give him a medal for surviving the first sub attack on US soil.

The Cunt for Red October.

ohulancutash@feddit.uk · 9 pts · 278d (4 replies)

There were 3 submarine attacks on the US in 1942.

Revan343@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Damned historical accuracy getting in the way of a decent joke

5too@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 278d

...first this century?

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

those were technically hoagies

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 278d

Acshully U-Boats.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 278d

Shit. Bread October...it was right there...

Carmakazi@piefed.social · 53 pts · 279d

The injury was to the ego and authority - of the entire apparatus, not one man. They're all anxious to bring retribution and remind everyone that the enforcer class is above them and demands your cowering deference.

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 279d (1 reply)

That's a really good point. I hope he gets a medal for injury in the line of duty with a big, televised ceremony and lots of sandwich puns.

EvilBit@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 279d

Kinda gives new meaning to the term “war hero”.

DrDystopia@lemy.lol · 13 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Succulent...

Let go of my eggplant!

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 10 pts · 278d

This is delicatessen manifest!

tidderuuf@lemmy.world · 85 pts · 279d (14 replies)

I hope the jury are all served sub sandwiches for lunch each day of this trail.

nocturne@slrpnk.net · 54 pts · 279d (2 replies)

With extra onions and mustard

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 279d (1 reply)

A salt and buttery with a weapon for mass consumption.

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 278d

Their were buying yellow cake!

Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 279d (10 replies)

They don't serve food to juries. If you're lucky, they give you enough to offset the parking costs.

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 279d (6 replies)

Yeah, off topic, but it really seems like the court system has adapted over time to disincentivize the lower class from serving on juries.

FartMaster69@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 279d (5 replies)

But you can’t opt out, you legally must serve.

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 8 pts · 278d

I was called up for jury service a few years ago. I was actually really excited to get someone off, but I wasn't even put into a pool.

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 278d (3 replies)

True, but there are ways to get out pretty easily.

P00ptart@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 278d

My personal favorite is "the defendant didn't show up". It's worked for me twice now.

RaoulDuke85@fedia.io · 4 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Just say you hate cops, which is probably true anyway.

bookmeat@lemmynsfw.com · 4 pts · 278d

In some areas you can just say you don't want to do it and that you don't think you could be fair and they'll just pass on you.

eestileib@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 279d (2 replies)

The jurors in the FTX case got pizza ordered for them when they were doing final debate.

Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Well that's not the norm

eestileib@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 278d

I think they said they'd probably be able to wrap it up that night if they got dinner and the judge was like "hell yeah order up".

Manjushri@piefed.social · 65 pts · 279d

As neither party disputes the basic facts of the case, jurors will need to determine whether the sandwich-throwing is enough to convict Dunn on the misdemeanor assault charge.

Even if it is, this is a job for jury nullification.

A DC jury recently acquitted a different resident who was also charged with assault for allegedly moving her knee up toward an officer while being restrained after filming officers as they made immigration-related arrests.

I see that sense is, ever so slowly, being restored.

bitjunkie@lemmy.world · 59 pts · 279d

Norin@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 279d (2 replies)

Manjushri@piefed.social · 31 pts · 279d (1 reply)

That sandwich did not explode. It flopped limply against his chest just as you would expect a sub from Subway to do.

bampop@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

People are all ACAB but when you hear about the horrors these cops have to face, it makes you think. Could you handle the smell of onions and mustard? Would it make you hungry? What if there were no donuts in the area?

almost1337@lemmy.zip · 51 pts · 278d (3 replies)

New ICE patches: "Don't bread on me"

_AutumnMoon_@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 25 pts · 278d

Vandals_handle@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 278d

Tired: Cat Breading

Wired: Ice Breading

Fedizen@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

Pulls the string on an ice agent toy: "help, officer down, we're drowning in mustard, requesting backup and my mom!"

fritobugger2017@lemmy.world · 44 pts · 278d (3 replies)

Video clearly shows that the sandwich was fully wrapped. Why do they need to lie?

reddifuge@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 278d (2 replies)

Because conservatives are fucking snowflakes.

AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Seriously, it was a fucking sandwich. Pick it up and eat it or something you miserable excuse for a person. God damn.

acetanilide@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

Yeah maybe he was trying to share his dinner. Or play footballlong

hateisreality@lemmy.world · 41 pts · 279d (2 replies)

Pussy

ameancow@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 278d (1 reply)
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mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 278d

yes, just like the man said.

toofpic@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 279d (3 replies)

US catches up - abot 10 years ago, a riot cop in Russia became a victim of an empty paper cup throwing. It was qualified as assault, btw.

DrDystopia@lemy.lol · 5 pts · 278d (2 replies)

What's next, the US attacking a sovereign nation like Russia did Ukraine?

toofpic@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

You guys got Mexico and Canada!

fox2263@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

👀

Cyberflunk@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 278d (3 replies)
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Wilco@lemmy.zip · 11 pts · 278d (2 replies)

No. Remember that they could not get this through a grand jury. The Grand Juries are practicing Nullification for these incidents because the public is sick of Trump and ICE. They had to go with a lesser charge for it ... and this one stupid case will likely end this prosecutors career.

jacksilver@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d (1 reply)

~~~~The fact they got a case at all says that people were still willing to allow a case.~~~~

Edit: I was wrong, apparently they dropped it down to a misdemeanor so they didn't need to get it past a grand jury.
Wilco@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 278d

Yes, a "no true bill" is where a grand jury does not have the 12 votes needed and is rare. It is said a grand jury could indict a ham sandwich. I do not know if this was a ham sandwich thrown, but there have been 8 "no true bill" votes in DC during Trumps shenanigans.

That is saying something.

TimeNaan@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 279d (1 reply)

/c/yestheonion

Or at least AN onion

Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 279d

I relish this joke.

melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 28 pts · 278d (3 replies)

"The bun was a bit dry and that was more than I could take!", said the frightened man in army gear.

Karyoplasma@discuss.tchncs.de · 17 pts · 278d (1 reply)

PTSD - Post Thrown Sandwich Disorder

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 278d

Crusty Italian shrapnel wounds -Where is his Purple Heart?

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 278d

the horror...the horror....

bluemoon@piefed.social · 19 pts · 278d (2 replies)

GET OUT OF MY SWAMP, ICE

Spacehooks@reddthat.com · 3 pts · 278d (1 reply)

The crazy part is i read that in the right voice from the start.

bluemoon@piefed.social · 3 pts · 278d

sane of you, not cray <3

vivi@slrpnk.net · 18 pts · 279d (2 replies)

meanwhile, there's another, actually important trial happening that is describing horrific conditions of ice detention.

CubitOom@infosec.pub · 30 pts · 279d (1 reply)

I'd argue 1st Amendment rights and the weaponization of the legal system are also important.

Are you talking about this trial right?

Judge calls alleged conditions at Chicago-area immigration site ‘disgusting’

We need to stay aware of how this and similar trials unfold around the country.

vivi@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 278d

that's totally fair. i suppose i meant that this trial should not need to exist because the sandwich debacle should not be any different than someone yelling at them--a simple non violent protest.

and yes, that's the other trial I'm referring to.

the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 279d

Poor little pissy pants, must be so hard to be a traitor when you smell like onions and mustard.

Fleur_@aussie.zone · 12 pts · 278d

Waste of a sandwich

Fedizen@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 278d

Obviously the border patrol bootlicker isn't accounting for his own scent which smells like pigshit.

SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml · 10 pts · 279d (2 replies)

It was a run-by sandwiching by a fleet-footed foot-long fling-er.

To be fair, the sandwich was loaded.

Lettuce, tomato, pickle, cheese, cucumber, onion, spinach, mushrooms, olives, bell peppers…

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Fuck I want that sandwich inside me!

SeeMarkFly@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 278d

There is currently no limit on the amount of times the submarine sandwich can be deployed...as a breadly weapon.

ilinamorato@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 279d (2 replies)

A lot of us dream of using a submarine to attack our enemies. This isn't exactly what I meant.

HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 278d (1 reply)

The torpedo of truth

Tronn4@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

Freedom Footlong

ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 278d

McPTSD

PTSBLT

Nalivai@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 278d

There was a similar case in Russia in 2019 when a guy threw an empty paper cup in a direction of a police line at a protest, and got arrested and was tried for it. Ultimately he was set free, 2019 was very nice time for Russia, comparatively. Will see how American justice system compares.

Wilco@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 278d

This failed as an assault at the grand jury level, so they had to bring out a weak ass lesser charge.

shalafi@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 279d (4 replies)

Well, it was assault. Hilarious assault is still assault. As the victim, I'd be too humiliated to press charges.

bookmeat@lemmynsfw.com · 2 pts · 278d (2 replies)

If there's no harm there's no assault.

shalafi@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 278d (1 reply)

We're both wrong. "Battery" is the what the charge should be. Any unwanted and "violent" touching is battery (jurisdictions vary wildly of course). "Assault" is me telling you I'm going to beat your ass. Can't believe I mixed those up. 🙄

In any case, the notion of harm is a factor, but no harm has to occur to be charged. SOURCE: Spent the weekend in jail for admitting to pushing my wife. Battery. Got off, but still, had to spend 2-days with a bunch of animals.

Never speak to the cops!

burntbacon@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 278d

Assault and battery mean whatever the local law defines it as. There are several us states that don't have battery charges, everything from threats to the actual violence is all under assault.

Skrufimonki@lemmynsfw.com · 1 pts · 278d
grimpy@lemmy.myserv.one · 6 pts · 279d

it smelt like freedom

YurkshireLad@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 279d

Won’t you think of the laundry bill damnit!!

RedFrank24@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

Aww diddums

1985MustangCobra@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 278d

im still upset he wasted a nice good panino on this scum.

Ironfacebuster@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 278d

No way, was it a BORF sandwich?

Bacon, onions, radish, and french mustard