Two teenage criminals from Maryland have been arrested for brutally assaulting a former Trump administration staffer in Washington D.C., sparking President Trump to threaten federal takeover of the crime-ridden capital.
Violent Gang Attack Shocks Nation’s Capital
Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, was brutally attacked by approximately 10 teenagers during an attempted carjacking in Washington D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood around 3:00 a.m. on August 3, 2025. The young government worker, known online as “Big Balls” for his outspoken conservative views, was walking with his companion when the gang of juveniles demanded their vehicle. Coristine pushed his companion to safety before being savagely beaten by the mob, suffering significant injuries and having his iPhone stolen.
Trump Demands Federal Action Against D.C. Crime
President Trump responded forcefully to the attack, posting graphic photos of Coristine’s bloodied face on Truth Social and demanding immediate federal intervention in D.C.’s crime crisis. Trump threatened to “federalize” the District of Columbia, citing the local government’s apparent inability to protect citizens from rampant juvenile violence. This represents a significant escalation in federal-local tensions, with Trump using the high-profile assault to justify potential federal oversight of Washington’s failing criminal justice system.
Maryland Teens Face Serious Charges
Two 15-year-old suspects from Hyattsville, Maryland, have been arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking in connection with the assault. Metropolitan Police officers patrolling nearby intervened during the attack, causing most of the criminal gang to flee the scene. However, several other suspects remain at large, highlighting ongoing public safety concerns in the nation’s capital. The arrested juveniles’ identities have been withheld due to their age, though they face serious felony charges that could result in significant consequences.
Coristine had previously worked for the Department of Government Efficiency, participating in high-profile roundtables with Elon Musk before transitioning to the Social Security Administration after DOGE’s dissolution in June 2025. His public profile and connection to the Trump administration have amplified national attention on this brazen criminal act, transforming what could have been another D.C. crime statistic into a political flashpoint.
Pattern of Juvenile Violence Exposes Local Failures
This attack represents part of a disturbing pattern of juvenile-perpetrated carjackings and assaults plaguing Washington D.C. under ineffective local governance. The incident occurred in Logan Circle, typically considered one of the more affluent and safer neighborhoods in the District, demonstrating how pervasive the crime problem has become. Conservative analysts point to this escalation as evidence of failed progressive criminal justice policies that prioritize criminals over victims, particularly when dealing with juvenile offenders who face minimal consequences for serious violent crimes.
The broader implications extend beyond this single incident, as federal employees and patriots increasingly find themselves targets of violence in the nation’s capital. This attack on a former Trump administration staffer underscores the dangerous environment created by soft-on-crime policies that embolden criminal behavior while leaving law-abiding citizens vulnerable to predatory violence from repeat juvenile offenders.
Sources:
2 juveniles arrested in bloody DC attack on ex-DOGE worker known as ‘Big Balls’
Ex-DOGE staffer Edward Coristine injured in attempted carjacking, Trump federal takeover of D.C.
DOGE ‘Big Balls’ DC attack Trump
Trump responds after former 19-year-old DOGE employee beaten bloody in DC attempted carjacking