Pentagon Security Questions

Pentagon hires Jan. 6 rioter for top-secret role, raising national security vetting concerns.

The Department of Defense has hired Elias Irizarry, a convicted Jan. 6 Capitol rioter, to a Pentagon office involved in highly sensitive, classified operations under the current Trump administration. Reporting based on multiple sources says Pentagon staff raised internal concerns about whether someone linked to the attack could be trusted, particularly because Irizarry’s role is tied to irregular warfare and counterterrorism work such as embassy security, personnel recovery, and hostage rescue, with top-secret clearances required. Irizarry was 19 at the time of the 2021 riot, later pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted area, and was sentenced to 14 days in jail after expressing regret. Prosecutors alleged he deleted data from his phone around the period before and after Jan. 6, creating a “gap” in information. Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez defended the appointment as a “qualified, patriotic young professional” political role. The episode has prompted renewed questions about vetting standards for security-critical government posts.

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