The Pentagon has confirmed the hiring of Elias Irizarry, a former defendant from the January 6 riot, for a counterterrorism role. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez described Irizarry as a 'qualified, patriotic young professional' following reports of his appointment. Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to the Capitol attack, is now a political appointee in the Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Office's irregular warfare and counterterrorism division, which requires a top secret security clearance.
Irizarry, a South Carolina native and former Citadel cadet, was sentenced in March 2023 to 14 days in jail and ordered to pay $500 in restitution. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating that his participation in the events of January 6 brought 'great shame' to himself and his family. The Citadel suspended him after his guilty plea for violating the school's standards of conduct. Irizarry graduated from the Citadel in May 2024 with a B.A. in political science.
