A former Justice Department employee accused of throwing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent in August was found not guilty of assault by jurors Thursday.
The big picture: Sean Charles Dunn, 37, became a symbol of resistance against President Trump's D.C. crime crackdown after video of the incident went viral.
- "That night I believe I was protecting the rights of immigrants," Dunn told reporters after the verdict.
- Before this hearing, prosecutors had pushed for a felony assault charge against Dunn. However, federal grand jurors declined to indict him.
What they're saying: "I would like to thank family and friends and strangers for all of their support, whether it was emotional or spiritual or artistic or financial," said Dunn, a U.S. Air Force veteran who deployed to Afghanistan, per a GoFundMe page set up by a supporter.
- "To the people that opened their hearts and homes to me, I am eternally grateful, and I am so happy that justice prevails in spite of everything happening," added Dunn, who became known as "sandwich guy" after the incident.
The other side: "As always, we accept a jury's verdict; that is the system within which we function," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a media statement.
- "However, law enforcement should never be subjected to assault, no matter how 'minor.'"
- Representatives for the DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' Thursday evening request for comment.
