Two teens charged in attack on former DOGE official Edward ‘Big Balls’ Coristine

Two 15-year-old individuals have been charged with unarmed carjacking following a reported attack on Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer. Coristine, formerly an intern at Neuralink and a prominent figure in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was assaulted in Washington D.C.

Coristine’s career path has seen him move from DOGE, which he left in June, to federal service at the Social Security Administration (SSA). In his role at the SSA, he has been working to enhance the agency’s website.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday in Logan Circle, Washington D.C. Coristine was reportedly in his vehicle with a female friend when a group of approximately 10 teenagers approached them. According to reports citing local authorities, the group made comments indicating their intent to take the car.

In a move to ensure his companion’s safety, Coristine reportedly pushed her into the car before confronting the group. The confrontation escalated into an attack, with Coristine being assaulted until police arrived on the scene. His companion had contacted emergency services by calling 911.

Following the incident, technology mogul Elon Musk publicly praised Coristine’s bravery on his social media platform, X. Separately, former President Donald Trump shared an image of Coristine on Truth Social. Trump used the assault to advocate for harsher legal measures, calling for teenagers as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults and for Washington D.C. to be “federalized.”