The Sandwich Guy’s Verdict Sent Exactly the Right Message to Trump

Sean Dunn—known as Sandwich Guy—became a folk hero in August after throwing a sandwich at an officer to protest President Donald Trump's deployment of federal forces on Washington, D.C. streets.

On Thursday, a jury acquitted Dunn of assaulting an officer, marking another setback for the Trump administration’s attempts to punish Washingtonians opposing its aggressive crackdown on the city.

This acquittal adds to a series of embarrassing defeats for the administration. D.C. grand juries have repeatedly refused to indict protesters on exaggerated charges of violence, and criminal juries often decline to convict when cases go to trial.

Such skepticism toward the government’s aggressive prosecutions demonstrates that despite Washingtonians lacking full self-governance, they can still express their opposition through jury verdicts.

Slate Plus Bonus Episode Highlights

On this week's Slate Plus episode of Amicus, co-hosts Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern analyzed the Dunn case and its significance for enduring resistance to Trump’s abuse of power.

Dahlia Lithwick: "This is one of those things that looks lighthearted, but it’s a big, huge deal."

Their discussion underscores the power of local juries in pushing back against federal overreach and protecting civic freedoms.

Summary

The acquittal of the Sandwich Guy highlights the limits of the Trump administration’s crackdown tactics and affirms how jury decisions enable citizens to resist governmental overreach in Washington, D.C.

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Slate — 2025-11-08