Can Trump control DC and other cities? This is what we know
President Donald Trump’s control of the police in D.C. raises questions about federal powers. This is what we know now.
A man who was charged with a felony in federal court for throwing a sandwich at a Washington, D.C. Border Patrol agent, has been fired from the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondy said on August 14.
The argument came when hundreds of officers from multiple agencies patrol the city after President Donald Trump ordered an increase in the presence of law enforcement as part of a crime crackdown.
Sean Charles Dunn allegedly approached a federal agent identified as Gregory Lairmore, a customs and border guard agent, at about 11pm on August 10th, according to criminal charges reviewed by USA Today.
“Why are you here? I don’t want you in my town!” Dan yelled at the police officer, according to the criminal charges. He also vowed and vowed the officer as a “fascist,” the complaint said.
He then threw a sub-style sandwich on the officer’s chest, the complaint said. A video of the incident shared on social media shows the man in a pink shirt and shorts screaming for the officers. Then they throw sandwiches and run away as they chase him. The photo shows an incident that happened in front of a subway sandwich shop.
Dan was an employee of the Department of Justice, Bondy said in a social media post: “Not only was he fired, he was also charged with a felony,” he said.
“You will not work in this administration while you downplay our government and law enforcement,” she said.
Dan was charged with one count of assault, resistance or obstructing a particular US officer and employee, criminal charges said. His lawyer, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment when USA Today reached on August 14th.
“He thought it was funny. Well, he charged him with a felony and attacked the police officer, so he doesn’t think it’s funny,” said a US lawyer for the District of Columbia. “And we’re going to bring the police back to the handle.”
“So we stick our subway sandwiches somewhere else,” Piro said.
Trump ordered around 450 federal agents to patrol the country’s capital and target crimes on August 9 and 10 amid accusing his escalating rhetoric of denounced violent crimes in the city. A day after alleged sandwich attacks, Trump also announced he would be seizing federal control of the police department as part of a drastic effort aimed at deploying the National Guard in D.C. to remove homeless people from the streets.
“I am announcing historic actions to save our country’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedram, squalol, and more,” Trump said.
However, city officials say the president’s claims about crime are exaggerated. According to data compiled by the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crimes in the city fell 35% in 2024. The District of Columbia’s US Lawyer’s Office saw the lowest level of violent crime that year in “over 30 years.”
Contributed by Zack Anderson, USA Today
