Sandwich hurled by protester allegedly shattered and created mustard stain on customs official, trial told
A US immigration agent has declared in court he could detect through his body armor the impact of a deli item thrown at him by a DC demonstrator, who has stood before a judge for criminal charge.
Federal border agent Gregory Lairmore testified to the jury the sandwich "shattered all over him" and he "noticed the vegetables and mustard" on his work clothing.
Both legal teams disputes that Sean Dunn, 37, did in fact hurl obscenities and a made-to-order snack at officers sent by the former president to patrol the Washington DC in the summer month.
The incident was captured on video and became popular online, making Mr Dunn a symbol of opposition in the capital to the administration.
Federal attorneys originally tried to obtain major offense allegations against the accused, but a grand jury declined to charge him.
The administration's assignment of National Guard troops to Washington DC this summer sparked protest from some of the local inhabitants, who saw it as a partisan deployment of the troops.
Per court papers, Mr Dunn approached a police contingent at about 11 PM on 10 August, describing them "authoritarians" and yelling: "Why are you here? You are not welcome in my city!"
The trial saw a demonstration from the officer on Tuesday as he took the stand against Mr Dunn.
"I sensed it through my body armor," he stated of the food's collision, mentioning that an onion string remained from his police radio and condiment marked his shirt.
Mr Dunn's lawyer, the defense attorney, said in her opening statement that launching the deli product was a "harmless gesture that did not, could not, create physical damage".
But government attorney the prosecutor said the accused must be facing consequences.
"No matter who you are, you should not launching items at others because you're mad," Mr Parron declared.
After the alleged assault was revealed, the accused was fired from his position as a law firm employee in the government law department.