Pentagon Hires January 6 Convict

The Pentagon just hired Elias Irizarry, a January 6 Capitol riot convict turned counterterrorism specialist — a move sparking national debate. Once a Citadel freshman who pleaded guilty to entering a restricted building and served 14 days, Irizarry was pardoned in 2025 and now handles sensitive special operations. Photos show him wielding a metal pole and climbing Capitol windows during the riot. Pentagon officials call him “qualified and patriotic,” but critics question the vetting and message behind hiring someone with such a violent past. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4cf4fb16d09fa9e4