A man who pleaded guilty to participating in the Jan. 6 riot as a 19-year-old — and later described the events of that day as a "disgrace" — now works for the Defense Department.

Elias Irizarry, a South Carolina native and former cadet at the Citadel military college, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor related to Jan. 6.

Elias Irizarry is a “qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee,” a Pentagon spokesman said.