David Elizalde

Case Summary

David Elizalde was an active member of the U.S. Navy when he allegedly participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. According to an FBI statement of facts, he was interviewed in late December of 2021 by an FBI agent and an agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and admitted to driving to the Washington, D.C., area from Norfolk, Va., where he was stationed on the USS Harry Truman. He allegedly told those agents that he entered the Capitol building for about 30 seconds, despite seeing members of the crowd physically fighting with police officers, and left when an officer told him to go. Elizalde was first identified by the FBI as being inside the Capitol that day through the geolocation data linked to his Gmail account, federal court records state. The Navy confirmed Elizalde's service; He enlisted in 2007 and is currently stationed in Rota, Spain. In response to his arrest, the Navy wrote in a statement to NPR: "The Navy does not and will not tolerate supremacist or extremist conduct. Sailor participation in supremacist or extremist activities is directly contrary to professionalism standards which all Sailors are expected to follow."

Case History

In a Bench trial on 12/6/2023, Elizalde was found Guilty on one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building; and Not Guilty on the other three charges. Sentenced on 4/19/2024 to 30 days home detention; $10 special assessment; $2,500 fine. Elizalde received a full pardon on January 20, 2025

Sources

• Primary Documentation
  NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR
• Primary Documentation
  Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR

Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.