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A jury on Thursday acquitted a D.C. man who was charged with assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in the capital.

The one-sided food fight, which was captured on video and spread through social media, became a slapstick symbol of resistance to Trump’s summertime takeover of local law enforcement. The defendant, Sean C. Dunn, said he was speaking out against fascism and anti-migrant policies from the Trump administration.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office said the 37-year-old Air Force veteran was not on trial for protesting but for “throwing a sandwich at a federal officer at point-blank range.” Prosecutors sought to indict Dunn on a felony assault count, but a grand jury rejected that charge, and prosecutors downgraded it to a misdemeanor......

Defense attorney Sabrina Shroff then displayed a photo of the wrapped sandwich lying on the ground and pressed the agent to clarify whether it had really exploded. Lairmore said a piece of the sub seemed to be visible in the photo. “I had mustard and condiments on my uniform, and an onion hanging from my radio antenna that night,” the agent said.

During closing arguments Wednesday, Shroff questioned whether Lairmore really felt threatened, noting that his co-workers gave him a plush toy sandwich as a gag gift, which he displayed on his office shelf, and an insignia that he affixed on his lunchbox, showing a likeness of Dunn hoisting a hoagie above the words “Felony Footlong.”