Trump administration hired Capitol rioter at Pentagon

The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has employed an individual convicted for participating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Elias Irizarry, who was 19 at the time of the incident, has been assigned to the Pentagon, specifically within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

In 2023, Irizarry received a two-week jail sentence for a misdemeanor charge of unlawful entry related to the Capitol attack. Court records indicate he expressed remorse and apologized for his actions, though the judge criticized him for not preventing violence despite having the opportunity. He has since graduated from a military academy in South Carolina.

The Washington Post first reported on Irizarry's new role, publishing a photograph showing him holding a metal rod-like object and wearing a red MAGA hat during the January 6 events. A Pentagon spokesperson defended his hiring, calling him a "qualified, patriotic young professional." Pentagon records obtained by the AP show he was assigned to advise the Secretary of Defense on national security, military strategy, and planning, reportedly within the counter-terrorism team.

Irizarry is not the only individual convicted in connection with the Capitol attack to find employment within the Trump administration. Last year, Jared Wise, a former FBI agent accused of participating in the riots, was hired by the Department of Justice. He served as a counselor to the pardon attorney until April of this year. The Capitol attack occurred after a speech by then-President Trump to supporters, falsely claiming the 2020 election was rigged. The event led to the deaths of five people.

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qualified, patriotic young professional