Pentagon Appoints Jan. 6 Convict to Counterterrorism Office

The Pentagon confirmed that Elias Irizarry, a former Citadel cadet who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for entering a restricted building during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol breach, has been assigned to Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict office’s counterterrorism division. The appointment, announced in June 2026, requires a top-secret clearance and places him on a team of roughly 40 personnel handling counterterrorism and related missions.

The Hill

Irizarry entered the Capitol through a broken window, was identified on security footage, and pleaded guilty in 2022. He received a 14-day jail term, was suspended from the Citadel before being readmitted and graduating in May 2024, and lost a 2024 Republican primary for a South Carolina House seat by over 44 points.

The Guardian

The Pentagon described Irizarry as a patriotic professional, and Acting Press Secretary Joel Valdez posted on X that administration is proud to have him as an appointee. Irizarry expressed remorse, saying his participation brought “great shame” to himself, his family and the country. Judge Tanya Chutkan called his record commendable and offered help for his Citadel re-admission. DOJ's Ernie Sampera said his character is “beyond reproach” and his loyalty “absolute.”

Washington Examiner

Insiders warned that assigning a junior officer with a “checkered background” to a portfolio overseeing rescue and extraction missions could jeopardize security. An anonymous source said such hires raise “serious questions for leadership.” Democrats have called for investigations into Department of Homeland Security hiring of former Jan. 6 participants. Sources differ on whether the appointment was a Trump-era political placement or an internal Pentagon decision; details of Irizarry’s clearance remain undisclosed.

Raw Story

• “Mr. Elias Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee at the Department of War,” — Joel Valdez, Acting Pentagon Press Secretary

The Independent

• “Unlike Mr Irizarry, the Washington Post does not care about national security given its track record of low-tier reporters publishing and soliciting classified information that could hurt our nation on a daily basis.” — Joel Valdez

The Guardian

• “My participation in an event like January 6th has brought great shame upon myself, my family, and, unfortunately, my country,” — Elias Irizarry, sentencing statement

The Independent

• “In the case of rescue/extraction missions, it can place our special operators in some of the most complex and dangerous environments we ask of them,” — Anonymous source familiar with the appointment

The Independent

Congressional committees plan hearings on the appointment and broader hiring of former Jan. 6 participants. The Pentagon says it will cooperate with oversight, while critics anticipate further scrutiny of the clearance process and its effect on special-operations missions.

The Guardian