Washington, DC – A Department of Justice employee was fired after hurling a submarine sandwich at a federal officer in broad daylight during a confrontation caught on camera.
Sean Charles Dunn, 37, went viral Sunday after throwing the sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer on U Street before fleeing the scene.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Thursday that Dunn, an international affairs specialist in DOJ’s criminal division, has been terminated.
Footage of the incident shows Dunn in a pink shirt shouting at agents before launching the sandwich, striking one officer identified as Gregory Lairmore. Several agents, including members of Border Patrol and the FBI, gave chase as the crowd reacted. The bizarre assault took place amid heightened federal law enforcement presence in DC following a directive by President Donald Trump to curb crime in the capital.
Dunn was arrested and later admitted to throwing the sandwich, telling officers with the Metropolitan Police Department, “I did it. I threw a sandwich,” according to court documents obtained by the media.
He is facing charges related to assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.
Attorney General Bondi posted about the incident on X, writing, “This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ,” and declared, “You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement.”
The incident has fueled broader discussions about internal tensions within the DOJ, as Trump-era policies prompt a shake-up among long-serving federal employees. Dunn’s case highlights a flashpoint in that ongoing friction as federal agents remain visibly stationed throughout Washington under Trump’s law enforcement directives.
The DOJ has not issued further comment beyond confirming the employee’s dismissal.
