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A US immigration agent has declared in court he could feel through his ballistic vest the force of a deli item thrown at him by a DC demonstrator, who has gone on trial for assault.

Immigration and customs agent the government official told the legal jury the snack "burst all over him" and he "noticed the aromatic vegetables and mustard" on his work clothing.

Neither side disputes that the accused, thirty-seven, did in fact hurl vulgar language and a made-to-order snack at officers deployed by President Donald Trump to secure the Washington DC in August.

The event was filmed on video and became popular online, making the defendant a representation of opposition in Washington DC to the former president.

State lawyers initially tried to secure felony charges against Mr Dunn, but a legal panel refused to charge him.

The former president's sending of National Guard troops to the federal district this season sparked outrage from some of the city's residents, who saw it as a political use of the troops.

According to legal filings, the accused came near a law enforcement team at about 23:00 on 10 August, calling them "fascists" and yelling: "What is your purpose? I don't want you in my city!"

The legal proceeding observed a re-enactment from Mr Lairmore on Tuesday as he took the stand against the defendant.

"I sensed it through my ballistic vest," he said of the item's force, adding that an vegetable piece hung from his official equipment and mustard marked his uniform.

The accused's legal counsel, the defense attorney, stated in her initial argument that throwing the sandwich was a "harmless gesture that did not, could not, result in harm".

But government attorney the prosecutor said the accused must be held accountable.

"No matter who you are, you can't just go around hurling objects at individuals because you're angry," the attorney said.

Subsequent to the alleged assault became public, the defendant was fired from his job as a legal assistant in the government law department.