January 6 Participant Now Employed at Pentagon's Special Operations Office
Elias Irizarry, convicted of trespassing during the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, is now working at the Pentagon's Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office. Irizarry, who was 19 at the time of the riot, received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump upon his return to office and later secured the Defense Department position. The hiring raises questions about security clearance standards and the broader pattern of January 6 defendants receiving federal employment under the current administration.
Elias Irizarry, who was 19 years old when he entered the U.S. Capitol through a window carrying a metal pole on January 6, 2021, is now employed at the Pentagon's Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office, according to a Washington Post report. He had pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building and was sentenced to 14 days in jail, but was among those pardoned by President Trump upon his return to office. Positions in the Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict office typically require top-secret security clearances, which are normally granted only after extensive vetting processes. A Department of Defense spokesperson indicated that Irizarry is considered qualified for the role. His hiring is part of a broader pattern: another January 6 defendant, Jared Wise, was recently employed at the Department of Justice's Weaponization Working Group before resigning. Critics argue the appointments reflect an effort to reward participants in the Capitol breach, while supporters point to Irizarry's subsequent apology, his return to the Citadel military college, and his completion of the vetting process as evidence of rehabilitation.
What's missing
It remains publicly unclear what specific duties Irizarry performs, whether he has formally been granted top-secret clearance or is operating under a temporary or interim clearance, and what the full vetting process entailed in his case.
How coverage differed
The Atlantic framed the hiring as part of a 'concerning trend' and characterized January 6 as an 'insurrection,' emphasizing security risks and the political motivation behind such appointments. Coverage from other outlets varied in how prominently they highlighted the security clearance implications versus treating the story as a straightforward personnel report.
What different sources said
- The AtlanticLeft
The J6 Rioter Now Working at the Pentagon
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