Pentagon Hires Elias Irizarry for Counterterrorism Role
The Pentagon said Tuesday it hired elias irizarry as a political appointee and described him as a qualified, patriotic young professional. The Defense Department said he will serve in its Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict unit, which focuses on irregular warfare and counterterrorism.
Joel Valdez, the acting Pentagon press secretary, said, "a qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee." He also said, "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."
Irizarry’s January 6 case
Irizarry pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds after the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He was sentenced to 14 days in jail after prosecutors said he was 19 in January 2021, entered the Capitol and engaged in disorderly conduct.
He traveled to Washington, D.C., with friends to attend the Stop the Steal rally, moved with the crowd after the breach had begun, and entered through a broken window alongside others. Inside, he and others walked through the building, took photos and explored areas. He was not accused of violence.
The Pentagon unit
The Washington Post reported that Irizarry was hired into a Defense Department position with the Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict unit. Four officials told the newspaper there had been questions about how anyone linked to January 6 could be hired for such a role.
One insider told the newspaper the unit includes putting staff into some of the most complex and dangerous environments the Defense Department asks of them. The department also includes operations focused on hostage rescues, embassy security and personnel recovery.
From The Citadel to 2024
At sentencing, Irizarry described January 6 as "a disgrace" and said he was "ashamed." After his legal case, he was readmitted to The Citadel and graduated in 2024. He later ran in an unsuccessful Republican primary for a South Carolina state House seat.
His hiring puts that history inside a Pentagon office tied to irregular warfare and counterterrorism, the part of the department that handles some of its most sensitive personnel assignments. The hiring now centers attention on how the department judged his record against the role’s responsibilities.
