New Capitol Riot Footage Shows One Cop Saving Mitt Romney And Mike Pence From The Mob

Photo via C-SPAN, Wahington Post/YouTube

February 10, 2021, 3:24 pm

As promised, the prosecution for the second Donald Trump impeachment trial released footage previously kept from the public showing just how close former Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Mitt Romney came to being face-to-face with the Capitol mob on January 6.

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It appears that the only thing standing in the way of that horrific day becoming so much worse was one Capitol police officer—Eugene Goodman—who directed Romney away from the rioters and led the mob away from Pence as he was being evacuated.

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Diagrams help show just how narrow Pence’s escape was from a massive group of people who had erected a gallows for him and were chanting “hang Mike Pence.”

The diagram shows Mike Pence and fellow evacuees as the orange dot, barely the length of the senate chambers away from the mob (represented by the red dot), and Officer Goodman (blue dot) leads them in another direction.

Prosecutors also presented footage of Senator Mitt Romney and another individual unknowingly headed directly toward the rioters. Lucky for him, Goodman sprinted away from the mob and directed the pair to flee, which they did with enthusiasm as figures can be seen at the end of the corridor.

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Goodman is the same Capitol police officer who earned praise for the incredible footage of him goading the pro-Trump rioters into following him up some stairs and away from where members of congress were evacuating.

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While the police department was widely criticized for a shocking lack of adequate preparation for a protest they knew was coming and for being seen allowing the mob through barriers, it’s hard to estimate just how many lives Officer Goodman saved.

Legislation was introduced on January 20 to award Goodman with the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions during the attempted coup.

“If not for the quick, decisive, and heroic actions from Officer Goodman, the tragedy of last week’s insurrection could have multiplied in magnitude to levels never before seen in American history,” said bill co-sponsor Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. “With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy.”

It’s safe to say that this legislation is now even more likely to pass as people across the nation praise Goodman as a hero.

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There used to be a day when Republicans would celebrate this man instead of celebrate and defend the man who sent a mob to the Capitol.

Thank you, Officer Eugene Goodman (Army Veteran). You did your job. You did it well.

Now it’s time for Republican Senators to do theirs. pic.twitter.com/HXTex9q4rK

— VoteVets (@votevets) February 10, 2021

I don’t think it’s overstating it to say that Officer Goodman single-handedly saved the country. I had no idea they were so close to the senate chamber; Goodman scooted them right by the door and up the stairs—BY HIMSELF #ImpeachmentTrial

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) February 10, 2021

Officer Goodman is an American hero and how dare any GOP Senator think of voting to acquit Trump while Goodman continues to protect them.

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) February 10, 2021

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We knew Officer Goodman was a hero for leading the mob away from Pence and the Senate chamber. But we didn’t know that he ran to face the mob and turned @MittRomney around to get him out of trouble too. Wow.

— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) February 10, 2021

All Senators are alive today because of the bravery of Officer Goodman – a Black man.

— Midwin Charles, Esq. (@MidwinCharles) February 10, 2021

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We knew Officer Goodman was a hero. But these new videos and details show just how much. Unreal.

— Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) February 10, 2021

Officer Goodman’s statue should be added to Statuary Hall.

— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) February 10, 2021

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Stunning security footage of Officer Goodman rushing Sen. Romney to safety before diverting a mob approaching the Senate floor. A hero, a hero, a hero.

— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) February 10, 2021

Must say it again: God bless Officer Goodman

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) February 10, 2021

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*First Published: February 10, 2021, 3:24 pm