Teen Pleads Guilty in Beating That Spurred Trump’s Federal Takeover of D.C.

September 25, 2025

A 15-year-old from Hyattsville, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the August assault of 19-year-old Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, during an attempted carjacking near Dupont Circle. President Donald Trump used this incident to justify placing D.C. law enforcement under temporary federal control and deploying the National Guard, describing a "crime emergency" in the capital. However, police statistics actually show that violent crime in Washington has decreased this year compared to 2024, including a significant reduction in carjackings, prompting local officials to dispute the president's characterization of city crime.

Who is affected

Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, the 19-year-old victim and former DOGE staffer
The 15-year-old defendant from Hyattsville, Maryland
A woman who was with Coristine during the attempted carjacking
Washington D.C. residents living under the temporary federal law enforcement takeover
D.C. local government officials whose authority was superseded

What action is being taken

The 15-year-old has pleaded guilty to unarmed carjacking and related assault counts
Prosecutors will recommend appropriate sentencing under D.C. juvenile procedures
The teen remains under tight supervision as the case proceeds
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is actively reassuring people that the nation's capital is safe

Why it matters

The incident was used to justify federal intervention in local D.C. policing, including a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and National Guard deployment
The case highlights tensions between federal control and D.C.'s home rule
Legal experts and civil-liberties groups have raised questions about the scope and legality of the federal takeover
The situation exposes a disconnect between the administration's crime narrative and actual crime statistics showing declines in violent crime and carjackings

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer