Capital Officer Who Fought Mob, Escorts Kamala Harris To Inauguration

(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Remember this name: Eugene Goodman.

It was on this day just two weeks ago, that Goodman, a U.S. Capitol Police officer, became a hero. He was one of the officers who bravely directed participants in the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol away from the Senate chamber.

Today, officer Goodman was given the honor of escorting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris through that same building to the inaugural ceremony.

Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died as a result of the insurrection and attempted Coup by thousands of Trump supporters at last week’s confirmation hearing for President-Elect Joe Biden.

Dozens of people have been charged and more are currently being arrested, but there is one man, with the help of others, who stood up to the protestors: Officer Eugene Goodman.

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Goodman is now being hailed as a hero for drawing an angry mob away from the entrance as rioters smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol. This is key because if the mob would have entered that room, there may have been more casualties law enforcement says.

The Senate chambers wouldn’t be secured until one minute later, according to CNN’s timeline of events from the riot. Once Goodman led the rioters into a larger hall, backup officers arrived, though they were still outnumbered by rioters.

In a viral video from the scene, the officer is seen glancing to his left and notices the unobstructed hallway to the Senate as he was chased up a flight of stairs. Goodman, at first, tried to block an open door before realizing he was alone and being pursued.

(Photo by Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty Images )

Only armed with a baton, Goodman pushes the leader of the pack, a man wearing a black QAnon shirt later identified as Doug Jensen from Des Moines. Jensen was focused on Goodman and appeared not to notice the open hallway leading to the Senate chambers.

Jensen chased Goodman, who led him and the mob away from the Senate floor. The group, all white men, followed the Black officer into a group of police in a back corridor outside the Senate.

In the confrontation, Goodman puts himself between a man wearing a black T-shirt for the QAnon conspiracy movement and a hallway leading to the Senate chambers, then shoves the person to induce him and the crowd to chase Goodman toward officers in the opposite direction.

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(Photo credit: YouTube screenshot)

“As trump’s fascist mob ransacked the US Capitol, this brave USCP officer kept murderous rioters away from the Senate chamber and saved the lives of those inside. God bless him for his courage,” congressman Bill Pascrell wrote in a Twitter message.

Today, at the inaugural ceremony, the mention of his name was greeted with loud applause as he appeared at the arched entranceway where rioters breached the building exactly two weeks earlier.

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to give Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions.

The medal is reserved for Americans who’ve made “distinguished achievements and contributions” to their country.

He has also been named the acting deputy sergeant-at-arms for the House for Inauguration Day.