The Pentagon has defended its decision to hire a former Jan. 6 riot defendant for a sensitive counterterrorism position, calling him a “qualified, patriotic young professional” after reports surfaced about his new role within the Department of War.Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez appeared to confirm reporting by the Washington Post that Elias Irizarry, a former Citadel cadet who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, is now serving as a political appointee at the Pentagon.“Mr. Elias Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee at the Department of War,” Valdez posted Tuesday on X.
Valdez also criticized the Washington Post’s reporting, accusing the newspaper of disregarding national security.
“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,” he said.
Pentagon officials hired Irizarry to work in the department’s Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Office’s irregular warfare and counterterrorism division, according to the Washington Post. The position requires a top secret security clearance, the outlet said.
