The Capitol cop praised for leading rioters away from senators during the Jan. 6 siege was given a hero’s welcome Tuesday as he escorted Vice President Kamala Harris to the inauguration.
Officer Eugene Goodman — who was seen on viral video distracting rioters so they chased him instead of heading for an open Senate door — was honored with the title of acting deputy Senate sergeant-at-arms for Tuesday’s historic occasion.
He was greeted with a huge cheer and applause as he walked out in a brown overcoat ahead of Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, after escorting her down the interior Capitol steps.
The black officer was hailed for his role during the storming of the Capitol after he was shown single-handedly leading a baying mob of white rioters away from the Senate chambers to an area where other officers met him.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers also wants to honor the officer with the Congressional Gold Medal.
“When he was the only thing standing between Members of Congress and the violent mob, he quickly and selflessly redirected their fury upon himself so those Members could escape,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said in introducing the bill.
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman arrives for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. AP“Thanks to his valor, we are here today.”
The US Army’s 18th Airborne Corps also said he was “rightfully being hailed as a hero after singlehandedly holding back rioters from entering the Senate chambers.”
“An Iraq combat vet and member of this Corps, Eugene was a hero long before” the riots, the 18th tweeted. “We celebrate his valor.”
