A man in his 20s who was sentenced to prison for participating in the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol has been appointed to a political position at a Department of Defense office handling classified military operations, sparking controversy.
The Washington Post reported Tuesday, local time, that Elias Irizarry, a participant in the Capitol riot, is working at the Pentagon's special operations office.
Irizarry, who was 19 at the time of the Capitol riot and a freshman at The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, entered the Capitol building through a broken window after attending a rally in support of President Donald Trump. While he did not personally engage in violence, he was found guilty of unlawful entry.
Irizarry was sentenced to 14 days in prison and expelled from the college, but later re-enrolled and completed his studies. His criminal record was also expunged last year through President Trump's sweeping pardons. After returning to the White House, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Capitol riot.
According to the Post, Irizarry was assigned to an office that oversees embassy security, hostage rescue and operations to evacuate Americans abroad. It has not been confirmed who within the Trump administration appointed him to the Pentagon.
The Post reported that concerns are emerging among Pentagon staff that an individual convicted in connection with an attack on American democracy has been given sensitive national security duties. All positions in the office are said to require top-level security clearance.
The Pentagon has taken the position that there is no problem with Irizarry's hiring. Acting Pentagon spokesperson Joel Valdez said in a statement, "Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional," adding, "We are proud to have him join the Department of Defense as a political appointee."
