A prominent member of the Department of Government Efficiency was beaten in an attempted carjacking in Washington this week, prompting President Trump to renew his threat of a federal takeover of the city.

The victim was Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer known by his online sobriquet, Big Balls, according to the police, who said he was surrounded and attacked by 10 young assailants outside his car.

In a social media post on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Trump shared a photograph that appeared to show Mr. Coristine lying in the street bleeding, battered and shirtless, writing that crime in the nation’s capital was “totally out of control,” though the city’s crime rates have been falling.

“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City,” he said.

Police officers arrested two 15-year-old suspects, a boy and a girl, both from Maryland, at the scene, according to authorities. Officials said the episode happened in the early morning hours on Sunday in an upscale neighborhood less than two miles from the White House. The two teenagers were charged with unarmed carjacking. The police said they were seeking additional suspects.

  • Sarmyth@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    1 day ago

    If 10 people kick your ass and dont take your car, its not an attempted carjacking. Simple battery.

  • fox2263@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    2 days ago

    “So how many of them were there?”

    “Um like there was a girl…shit I mean like……8 guys….?..no 9…and that girl so like… 10…yeah 10”

    “You were attacked by 10 people?”

    “👀”

  • thanks AV@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    16
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    God damn it nyt post the picture of the kid beaten and bloody. I need to print it and run haphazardly across town frantically showing it to every passerby while jumping and clicking my heels saying “we can do it again”

  • andros_rex@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    180
    ·
    3 days ago

    I love the idea that a bunch of high school freshman beat the shit out of this loser. Really gives me hope for the next generation.

  • CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    16
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    Teenagers beat up a teenager, who was hired as a scapegoat by the felonious child in an old man’s body. Time to call in the national guard and impose martial law.

  • andyburke@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    104
    ·
    3 days ago

    Where are the Epstein files? He wants so badly to distract from that and yet today we are seeing proof Epstein was an FBI informant.

    Release his fucking FBI handler’s files as well. Let’s fucking go. Dude is wallowing in his swamp.

  • PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    37
    ·
    edit-2
    2 days ago

    who said he was surrounded and attacked by 10 young assailants outside his car

    X

    I fully expect that at some point soon someone will release video showing Señor Balls creating or escalating a confrontation with two or three fifteen-year-olds, and then them beating the shit out of him in turn while he cowers.

    Edit: I checked the photo. The fact that his shirt was off, but apparently undamaged, is I feel like another little clue supporting my random speculation here.

      • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        23
        ·
        2 days ago

        I disagree. Whenever trump fucks up, you can see at least 25% of republicans dipping their toe in the water to see if they can distance themselves from him. They’re just cowards.

        • shplane@lemmy.world
          cake
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          2 days ago

          Same way the nazis said “oops didn’t mean to” when they lost WW2. These idiots will support any right wing fascist, just slap a new coat of paint on the next one and it’s like the last one never happened

        • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          2 days ago

          I’m convinced at this point that Republicans are being initiated into the club like gang members. But instead of having to kill someone, commit a felony, etc., they are required to provide adequate blackmail material that can be used against them if they try to go against the party.

          The party is already self selecting for the morally bankrupt at this point, they have for sure all done some fucked up thing in their past they don’t want to come out.

          • dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            edit-2
            2 days ago

            I was convinced of this years ago. This was as true now as ever, with the rate of compromised, a-moral behavior being well above chance, it defies any consideration of mere coincidence. The idea of a political party not conducting background checks on candidates it endorses would be lunacy, so we’re left to conclude that they’re either a very forgiving bunch, or prefer dirtbags they can control.

            Where things get interesting is that it may not work forever. Epstein thought that manufacturing dirt on the rich and powerful was enough to keep his operation going, and save his neck, all at the same time. That didn’t exactly pan out for him. This makes me wonder if such a scheme really is tenable when playing at that power level.

  • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.worksOP
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    49
    ·
    edit-2
    3 days ago

    A federal takeover? D.C. isn’t even a state, I thought it was something like a federal district. How TF does that even work?

    Trump to officially admit he is trying to takeover the U.S. and begin claiming territories for his monarch?

    That’s what I thought… A federal takeover of a federal district? Do you mean a confederate takeover of a federal district? Bc thats really what it sounds like…?

    • dhork@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      33
      ·
      edit-2
      3 days ago

      So DC, being a federal territory, historically was governed by leaders picked directly by the President. In 1973, Congress passed a law providing for a popularly elected Mayor and a board of District Councilmembers.

      Now, I think all of those DC elected officials are Democrats or independents who lean left. So it would not surprise me to see Trump push to abolish that 1973 law, and go back to the practice of appointing the mayor directly.

      Interestingly, since DC is not part of any state (and in fact has a larger population as of the last census than Vermont and Wyoming), the DC mayor is almost like a governor, because there is no government above it to make certain laws like States do. So it is a pretty powerful position for Trump to be able to sell to the highest bidder. Think of all the money it will make him if Congress revokes that 1973 law!

      • kiterios@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        10
        ·
        2 days ago

        So DC, being a federal territory, historically was governed by leaders picked directly by the President. In 1973, Congress passed a law providing for a popularly elected Mayor and a board of District Councilmembers.

        DC governance is in those parts that “went missing” from Congress’ version of the Constitution.

        To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of Government of the United States

        • dhork@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 days ago

          Yes, but we shouldn’t panic until they delete the tenth amendment. Because that amendment specifically allocates all powers not explicitly enumerated in the Constitution to the States (or the People).

          So if this regime “deletes” this clause, they are really deleting their own ability to exercise legislative authority over DC. Without this clause, there is no way for DC to be governed other than by a democratically elected leader.