A teenager from Hyattsville, Maryland, just 15 years old, has admitteed guilt in a case of assault and robbery. The case involves an attack on Edward Coristine, who previously served at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The incident, which transpired around 3 a.m. in Logan Circle, has caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who is now pushing for federal action to address what he sees as a growing problem of youth crime.
A widely circulated image showed a bloodied Coristine and prompted Trump to highlight crime issues in D.C. In light of this event, his administration even called in the National Guard and assumed control over the Metropolitan Police.
Reports indicate that Coristine tried to protect his partner by getting them into a car for safety before he confronted the attackers directly. Trump expressed deep concern in a statement, saying, “Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some as young as 14, 15, and 16, are randomly attacking innocent people, so sure they’ll be released almost immediately after.”
The President went on to say, “They aren’t afraid of law enforcement because they know nothing will happen to them, but that’s all about to change!” This stance has led to reactions from both sides of the political spectrum; while Trump insists these measures are necessary to cut down crime, Democrats have labeled his approach as federal overreach. Trump has even hinted at possibly using similar tactics in other cities facing similar issues.
In Congress, various proposals related to D.C.’s handling of juvenile crime are moving forward. Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) is leading the DC CRIMES Act, seeking to raise the youth-offender age to 18. Meanwhile, Representative Brandon Gill (R-TX) is advocating for the ability to prosecute juveniles as young as 14 as adults for specific violent felonies.
Commenting on the federal takeover, Trump declared, “We’ve had some amazing results—it’s like a different city now after these changes.”
Coverage provided by David Wilson, who writes on U.S. politics and news for content partner Modern Newsstand LLC.
