From News Nation: Two more suspects have been charged with the attempted carjacking and beating of a 19-year-old man who was working for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency — a crime that was a catalyst for the White House’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital.
Laurence Cotton-Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, were arrested last week on charges stemming from the Aug. 3 attack on Edward Coristine, a prominent DOGE employee nicknamed “Big Balls.” Two 15-year-old suspects from Maryland previously were charged with, convicted of and sentenced for Coristine’s beating.
“This case underscores the escalating challenges that we face in confronting crime in Washington, D.C.,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said at a news conference on Monday.
Coristine was walking a woman to her car in the city’s Logan Circle neighborhood when he was attacked by a group of teenagers who repeatedly punched and kicked him, authorities said. The suspects fled when they spotted a police officer nearby.
In describing the charges, Pirro said both Cotton-Powell and Taylor also attacked and robbed a man at a gas station, identified as Ethan Levine, shortly before they assaulted Coristine.
Pirro provided details of Cotton-Powell’s criminal record, noting he had been released back onto the streets despite previous arrests.
“On April 3rd of this year, Laurence Powell was sentenced for a felony attempted robbery. A judge sitting in the criminal part in superior court with no criminal background, made a decision to give Powell probation in spite of his conviction on a felony attempted robbery. Within 31 days, by May 4th, Powell re-offends.”
“That same Judge comes back and releases cotton Powell and tells him basically be a good boy.”
“So after a felony of attempted robbery conviction, after a violation of probation, after a second crime, after a second conviction, after no compliance with see Sosa, the judges say, do better and they let him go. And guess what? Within 10 days he’s at it again with Ethan Levine and Edward Corstein.”
It has previously been reported that a mob of 10 people were involved in the brutal attack on Coristine. Initially, only two 15-year-old teens were caught, and they have both gotten off with a “slap on the wrist.”
Now, two more have been identified and arrested in the attack. Cotton-Powell allegedly stomped on Coristine’s head, and Taylor participated in the assault.
WATCH BELOW as Pirro outlines the charges against the pair.
BREAKING: Laurence Cotton-Powell, 19, of the District, and Anthony Taylor, 18, of Temple Hills, Maryland, have been charged in Superior Court for their roles in the August 3 attempted carjacking, robbery, and beating of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)…
— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorTV) October 20, 2025
Watch live today at 3:00 p.m. ET: @USAttyPirro and Law Enforcement to announce update on the latest arrest in the assault of former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine.
Livestream is available via YouTube:https://t.co/kxAPrn9nzn
— U.S. Attorney DC (@USAO_DC) October 20, 2025
READ MORE from News Nation.
SLAP ON THE WRIST! Judge hands sentence to two teens for assaulting former DOGE staffer
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