Trump administration appoints Jan 6 convict to Pentagon job

The Trump administration has appointed a man convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot to a sensitive position within the Pentagon. Elias Irizarry, now a political appointee, works in the Defense Department’s Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, which oversees classified missions including counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and embassy security.

Irizarry pleaded guilty in 2022 to a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building during the insurrection. He was 19 years old and a freshman at The Citadel military college at the time. Federal prosecutors stated that after attending a rally for then-President Donald Trump, Irizarry joined the crowd that breached the Capitol, carrying a metal pole and entering the building through a broken window. He was not accused of assaulting law enforcement. In March 2023, a judge sentenced him to 14 days in jail and ordered him to pay $500 in restitution.

Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez confirmed the appointment, stating that Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional and that the department is proud to have him. In his statement, Valdez also criticized media...