Federal prosecutors say the brutal attack on former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine by two Washington, D.C. teens underscores the need for accountability in a city increasingly plagued by violent youth crime.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro announced federal charges Monday against Lawrence Cotton Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, in connection with a string of assaults and an attempted carjacking. The teens face multiple counts of first-degree robbery and assault with intent to commit robbery — crimes that carry up to 15 years in prison each.
Pirro said the case illustrates “the need for accountability of offenders in the district” and blasted D.C. judges for releasing Powell despite his violent history. “After a felony of attempted robbery conviction, after a violation of probation, after a second crime, after a second conviction, after no compliance with CSOSA, the judges say, ‘Do better,’ and they let him go. And guess what? Within ten days, he’s at it again,” she said.
According to Pirro, the pair assaulted and robbed another victim minutes before attacking Coristine, who was beaten unconscious while protecting a female friend. “They were banging on the car, they were pulling on the car door… and were telling the woman in the car to hand over the keys,” Pirro recounted.
Pirro called on the D.C. City Council to “reconsider” laws that let repeat offenders roam free. “The people of this district deserve no less than safety,” she said.
