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A US immigration agent has stated under oath he could feel through his ballistic vest the collision of a food product hurled at him by a capital city activist, who has stood before a judge for criminal charge.

Customs and Border Patrol agent the government official informed the jury the food item "exploded all over him" and he "could smell the vegetables and yellow sauce" on his uniform.

Neither side contests that the defendant, 37, did in fact lob obscenities and a deli-style sandwich at authorities sent by the administration to monitor the nation's capital in late summer.

The event was filmed on camera and went viral, making the defendant a representation of dissent in the federal district to the former president.

Federal attorneys initially tried to secure major offense allegations against the accused, but a grand jury declined to charge him.

The former president's sending of military personnel to the capital this summer sparked anger from some of the DC citizens, who viewed it as a political use of the military.

According to charging documents, the defendant walked up to a police contingent at about 23:00 on 10 August, calling them "fascists" and yelling: "Why are you present? You are not welcome in my city!"

The court observed a reenactment from the officer on the court date as he testified against Mr Dunn.

"I sensed it through my protective gear," he said of the sandwich's impact, noting that an onion string dangled from his official equipment and sauce marked his clothing.

The defendant's legal counsel, Julia Gatto, stated in her initial argument that launching the deli product was a "non-threatening act that did not, could not, result in harm".

But government attorney John Parron maintained the accused must be facing consequences.

"Regardless of identity, you cannot simply hurling objects at others because you're mad," Mr Parron said.

After the claimed attack came to light, the accused was terminated from his employment as a law firm employee in the Department of Justice.