Edward Coristine, a staff member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and known by his online moniker Big Balls, was brutally attacked after intervening in an attempted carjacking in Washington D.
C., as per police records and a statement by Elon Musk.
This incident adds to the growing concern over the escalating crime rate in the nation's capital, which has recently been under the scrutiny of both the media and the White House.
According to a police report from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department obtained by the Daily Caller, the incident took place around 3 a.m. on Sunday. Coristine and another individual were reportedly standing near their vehicle when the suspect approached. The DOGE staff member, fearing for the safety of his companion, pushed her into the vehicle and faced the assailants.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Coristine was then assaulted by the suspects, but the arrival of an MPD cruiser caused approximately ten suspects to flee the scene on foot. Two suspects were subsequently arrested, and Coristine received medical treatment for injuries sustained during the assault.
The arrested suspects, a 15-year-old male and a 15-year-old female from Hyattsville, Md., were both charged with unarmed carjacking. This incident has sparked outrage and concern among high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the former head of DOGE.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump decried the "totally out of control" crime situation in Washington D.C., stating that Coristine had been "beaten mercilessly" by "local thugs." He expressed his concern about the increasing violence perpetrated by young gang members, who he claimed were "not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them."
Trump further warned that if D.C. did not take swift action to curb the crime rate, he would consider federalizing the city.
In response to Trump's post, Musk confirmed the incident and identified the victim as a DOGE staffer. He praised Coristine's bravery and echoed Trump's call for federal intervention in D.C. Another DOGE member, Marko Elez, also confirmed the incident and hailed Coristine as a hero.
The escalating violence in D.C. has been a topic of concern for some time now. The fatal shooting of Republican intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym on June 30 and the murder of two Israeli Embassy staff members near the Capital Jewish Museum have only added to the urgency of the situation. During a Cabinet meeting in July, Trump had hinted at the possibility of federal intervention in D.C., stating that his administration was considering it to ensure a "flawlessly" run capital.
The investigation into the carjacking incident is currently being handled by MPDs Carjacking Taskforce. Both DOGE and the White House have yet to respond to the Daily Caller News Foundations request for comment. The rising crime rate in D.C. is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention and action.
The bravery of individuals like Coristine, who risk their lives to protect others, is commendable, but it also underscores the urgent need for effective law enforcement and crime prevention strategies in the city.
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