A convicted participant in the January 6 Capitol riot has reportedly been hired to work at the Pentagon. According to NBC News, Elias Irizarry was a 19-year-old student at The Citadel during the events of January 6, 2021.
Court documents state that Irizarry entered the U.S. Capitol through a broken window while holding a metal pole. “Irizarry joined the mob for many hours. After he armed himself with a metal pole, Irizarry watched as rioters violently assaulted officers who were trying to make their way through the crowd,” prosecutors said during his hearing.
Irizarry later pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building. He served 14 days in jail.
Pardon and Appointment
Irizarry was among hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by Donald Trump on his first day back in office in January 2025.
Following the pardon, Irizarry was hired into a political role at the Pentagon. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez confirmed the hiring in a statement.
“Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee,” Valdez said.
Role Within the Pentagon
According to The Washington Post, Irizarry now works in the irregular warfare and counterterrorism section.
That office oversees the employment of special operations forces in areas such as counterterrorism and counterproliferation.
The appointment has drawn attention given Irizarry’s prior involvement in the Capitol riot. Officials have not indicated whether additional vetting measures were taken following his pardon.