Former Jan. 6 Defendant Now Employed at Pentagon

Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to charges related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, is now employed at the Defense Department. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez stated that Irizarry is a qualified and patriotic young professional, though he did not disclose the specifics of Irizarry's position. At the time of the Capitol riot, Irizarry was a 19-year-old student at The Citadel military college. Prosecutors presented evidence of Irizarry's involvement in the riot, including entering the Capitol through a broken window and encouraging other rioters. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building and was sentenced to 14 days in jail. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, Irizarry expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged the importance of a stable government. In 2025, he was pardoned by President Donald Trump, along with other defendants from the January 6 incident.