An early staffer for the Department of Government Efficiency was assaulted in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night during an attempted carjacking.
A police report obtained by USA TODAY says officers observed a group of about 10 kids surrounding Edward Coristine’s car and assaulting him around 3 a.m. Sunday. The report said officers immediately got out of the car when they saw the incident, and the kids ran away.
Coristine, who worked for one of Elon Musk’s companies before he joined DOGE, became an infamous government staffer because of a colorful nickname he once used online. Musk left the government in May, and many of his staffers joined other areas of the government.
Coristine told police that he saw the suspects approach the vehicle and make a comment about taking it, according to the police report. He was with his significant other, whom he pushed into the car for her safety before turning to deal with the suspects, who started assaulting him, the police report said.
President Donald Trump posted a photo on social media Tuesday afternoon of a bloodied, shirtless man, whom other news outlets have identified as Coristine, along with criticism of crime committed by kids in Washington, D.C.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,” Trump wrote. “Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens.”
The police report does not indicate that Coristine was shot.
“If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City,” Trump wrote.
Local prosecutions are handled primarily by the U.S. Attorney’s office for Washington, D.C. The Senate confirmed Trump nominee Jeanine Pirro to that role earlier this week.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced Tuesday it arrested two 15-year-olds from Maryland. They were charged with unarmed carjacking.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former Elon Musk staffer assaulted in DC during attempted carjacking
