Two teenagers accused in the attempted carjacking that left a former DOGE staffer severely injured in Washington, D.C., earlier this month have been released from a juvenile holding facility into the custody of their caretakers under strict court-imposed conditions, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The case stems from the August 3 attack on Edward Coristine, a former DOGE staffer known as “Big Balls,” who was violently beaten after confronting two teenagers during an attempted unarmed carjacking.
MAGA pundit pleads for Trump to give ‘Big Balls’ Medal of Freedom after DC assault https://t.co/X7xNI8Y0cw [2] pic.twitter.com/6gcc2Zn68f [3]
— The Independent (@Independent) August 12, 2025 [4]
The assault drew national attention and was cited by President Donald Trump as part of the justification for his recent crime crackdown in the capital, which included federal control of the city’s police and deployment of the National Guard, supplemented by additional forces sent from Republican-led states.
The suspects, a 15-year-old boy and girl from Maryland, had been held at the Youth Services Center until a hearing Thursday. During the proceeding, Judge Kendra Briggs, appointed by former President Joe Biden, ruled to release the teens under tight restrictions.
According to court records, the girl will be sent to a youth shelter house while the boy will return to his mother’s care. Both will be subject to a 24-hour curfew, electronic monitoring, and a ban on contacting one another.
“The fact that this court is stepping you down from Youth Services Center is a serious step,” Judge Briggs said during the hearing, according to the Washington Post. She instructed the teens that their movements should be limited to “school and home, that’s it.”
JUST IN: Biden-Appointed Judge Orders Release of ‘Teens’ Who Violently Attacked Ex-DOGE Employee Edward Coristine, AKA “Big Balls” pic.twitter.com/zqsxRAqveZ [5]
— Ian Hansen News 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansenNews) August 22, 2025 [6]
She also warned that any involvement in future violence would result in an emergency hearing to reconsider their release.
The girl, according to court statements, has “major truancy issues” and had previously gone missing from home for several months. At the shelter, where electronics are not permitted, she will be required to undergo weekly drug testing.
The boy, who will remain at home due to the distance between the youth shelter and his school, will face random drug tests as part of his release conditions.
Prosecutors argued that the girl, who faces a separate pending case in Maryland, posed both a danger to the community and a potential flight risk.
Her attorney countered that she was only “in the vicinity” of the incident and that the evidence tying her directly to the assault was limited.
Neither teenager had prior contact with the District’s juvenile justice system, according to their attorneys. Both are expected to return to school within the next week, coinciding with the girl’s anticipated trial in Maryland.
Authorities continue to search for an additional suspect, described as a black male, believed to have also been involved in the attempted carjacking.