Feds charge two teens in DC assault that left former DOGE staffer bloodied

Two teenagers, Lawrence Cotton Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, who are linked to the beating of former DOGE member Edward Coristine in Washington, D.C., now face federal charges for a series of assaults and attempted carjackings.

The teens are charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and assault with intent to commit robbery, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and attempted carjacking, punishable by up to five years.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro announced the charges at a news conference Monday.

Pirro said the charges highlight “the need to hold offenders accountable in the district.”

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Former DOGE member Edward Coristine was attacked by several teenagers in Washington, DC earlier this year. (Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images; @realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)

“What is significant about this case is the story of Lawrence Cotton Powell,” she said.

Pirro said that although he was a repeat offender and had a prior criminal history involving assault, Powell had been released by Washington judges shortly before beating and robbing Coristine. She said that although the U.S. attorney’s office sought prison time for Powell, his sentence was suspended by a local judge on July 25, just days before he attacked Coristine.

“After a conviction for attempted theft, after a violation of probation, after a second crime, after a second conviction, after failure to comply with CSOSA [Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency]the judges say: “Do better” and they let him go. And guess what? In ten days he starts again,” Pirro said.

According to Pirro, Powell and Taylor, along with a gang consisting of several others, assaulted and robbed another individual just minutes before attacking Coristine. Pirro said that upon seeing the group of about ten suspects approaching, Coristine pushed a friend into her car to try to keep her safe.

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“He was then attacked by several suspects who then punched him several times, causing him serious injuries. They tackled him to the ground and in doing so demanded the car from the woman who was inside and who had already locked the car. They punched the car, pulled on the door, tried to open the car and told the woman in the car to hand over the keys,” said Pirro.

Pirro urged the D.C. City Council to “reconsider” its laws that “allow these young people to go out and victimize, revictimize and continue to revictimize and endanger the safety of the citizens who live, work and visit here.”

“I ask them to finally stand up and send a clear message, because the residents of this neighborhood deserve nothing less than safety,” Pirro said.

Coristine was attacked around 3 a.m. by a group of teenagers in DC’s Logan Circle neighborhood.

A photo of a bloodied Coristine went viral, sparking outrage over the city’s handling of crime and attracting the attention of President Donald Trump. The president criticized Washington DC, saying crime in the city was “totally out of control.”

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Members of the District of Columbia National Guard, standing next to an MATV vehicle, scan the area as they patrol outside Union Station, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Washington. (José Luis Magana/AP Photo)

“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some as young as 14, 15 and 16, randomly attack, assault, mutilate and shoot innocent citizens, all the while knowing they will be released almost immediately. They are not afraid of law enforcement because they know nothing will ever happen to them, but it will happen now!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Days later, Trump ordered federal law enforcement to increase their presence throughout Washington. He also deployed members of the National Guard to patrol the city and assumed federal control of the Washington Metropolitan Police.