Citadel cadet who pleaded guilty to participating in U.S. Capitol riot running for SC House seat

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – A Citadel cadet who pleaded guilty to participating in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building hopes to be elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Records from the South Carolina Election Commission show Elias Irizarry filed Wednesday to run for South Carolina House District 43, which includes Chester and York Counties.

Irizarry will face incumbent Representative Thomas Randy Ligon, who has served House District 43 since 2019, in the June primary – the winner in that election will be on November’s ballot. Both are running as a Republican.

Records from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia listed Irizarry’s charges as entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.

A freshman at the Citadel, Irizarry and two friends drove to Washington the night before the riot to attend former President Donald Trump’s rally the following morning.

According to the statement of offense, the three made their way with a large crowd toward the Capitol building before the speech ended. By the time they arrived, the breach of the building had already begun. They were handed metal poles broken off of downed metal bicycle barricades and entered the Capitol through a broken window.

Once inside, Irizarry and one other man took photos of each other throughout the building, climbed on statutes, and rode elevators. They were in the building for just under 30 minutes.

Irizarry admitted to sitting on a police car parked outside the building, and one of his friends admitted to “[hitting] a police officer on the officer’s helmet,” according to a statement.

The college freshman was arrested in March 2021 and later pleaded guilty in October of the following year to Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds. He accepted a plea deal before his case went to trial.

The Citadel confirmed in December 2022 that it had suspended Irizarry, but allowed him to continue studies after his case was resolved. Officials with The Citadel tell News 2 he is currently enrolled at the college.

News 2 reached out to Irizarry for comment via email but we have not heard back.