Two Charged in Assault on DOGE Staffer

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the arrests of 19-year-old Laurence Cotton-Powell and 18-year-old Anthony Taylor, charging them with attempted unarmed carjacking, robbery and assault with intent to commit robbery for the Aug. 3 attack on Edward Coristine, a Department of Government Efficiency staffer nicknamed "Big Balls." Prosecutors said the men were part of a larger group that pummeled Coristine as he escorted a woman to her car in Logan Circle, and that the defendants and others also committed an earlier robbery at a Sunoco gas station. Two 15-year-olds arrested at the scene later pleaded guilty and received probation. Authorities said the defendants admitted involvement during police interviews and emphasized Cotton-Powell’s prior felony attempted-robbery conviction and alleged probation violations. The assault drew national attention and was cited by President Trump to justify a federal law-enforcement and National Guard surge to Washington, D.C., which district officials said they cooperated with. Preliminary hearings for Cotton-Powell and Taylor are expected in early November.