Eugene Goodman, the U.S. police officer in the Capitol who pulled rioters out of the Senate chamber during the January 6 attack, led Senator Mitt Romney away from the mob a few minutes earlier.
“I was indeed very happy that Officer Goodman was there to get me in the right direction,” Romney, R-Utah, told reporters on Wednesday after the video showed how close he was to the pro-Trump mob that the Capitol stormed.
Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D Virgin Islands, one of the House executives who prosecuted Trump during his Senate hearing, showed the new security camera video, which had no sound. There was Goodman who quickly confronted the crowd – but first scrambled to lead Romney to safety.
Goodman has already been praised as a hero after a video appeared of him scavenging rioters out of the Senate, after violating the Capitol.
With the launch of the new video, Plaskett, who is a non-voting delegate to Congress, said there was ‘more to his hero story’.
“In this safety material, you can see Officer Goodman running to respond to the initial offense,” she said.
The video shows Goodman speeding through the Ohio Clock Corridor outside the Senate chamber toward Romney, waving him to turn around and take a different path. Romney then turns around and turns back to the Senate Hall.
Romney was in the room on Wednesday when Plaskett played the video, and he watched intently.
He then told reporters that he was not aware of the identity of his guardian angel.
“I did not know it was Officer Goodman. I look forward to thanking him when I see him next time,” Romney said.
This finally happened hours later when the two were spotted after the trial for the day was adjourned.
“I expressed my appreciation to him for coming to my aid and getting me back on the path to safety and expressing my appreciation for all he did that day,” Romney told reporters.
Asked earlier in the day if he realized how close he was to the crowd, he said, “No, I did not.”
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Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, said the managers’ presentation was disturbing.
“It was obviously very disturbing to see how violent our Capitol police and other subject are. It tears to your heart and brings tears to your eyes. It was overwhelmingly upsetting and emotional,” he said.
After the video was played, Romney’s son Matt tweeted to thank Goodman for his ‘bravery and service’.
Five people were killed as a result of the riots, including a police officer.
A group of dual House members introduced legislation to award the Goodman Gold Medal to Congress after an earlier video of his heroism went viral on social media.
Goodman, a veteran of the army who served in Iraq before joining the Capitol police, accompanied Vice President Kamala Harris during the inauguration.
