Pentagon appoints convicted January 6 rioter to sensitive counter-terrorism role

Alarm after Elias Irizarry is hired to position in office that manages highly classified military operations

The Pentagon has appointed a rioter convicted for his role in 6 January, 2021 insurrection to a sensitive national security role dealing with counterterrorism, overriding insiders’ concerns about his past record.

Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in connection with the storming of the US Capitol, has been appointed to a position in the US Department of Defense’s special operations and low intensity conflict office which manages highly classified military operations, causing alarm among Pentagon officials.

The story was first reported by the Washington Post, which published a picture of Irizzary – holding what appeared to be a metal pole and wearing a pro-Donald Trump Make America Great Again (Maga) hat – looking over a wall on the day of the riot.