Hero Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who led rioters away from Senate chamber during siege, escorts Kamala Harris at Inauguration as he's promoted to Acting Deputy House Sergeant-at-Arms
Hero Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who led a MAGA mob away from the Senate chamber during the January 6 siege, escorted Vice President Kamala Harris on Inauguration Day.
Goodman, 40, has been promoted to Acting Deputy House Sergeant-at-Arms and just two weeks after the violent riot where he potentially saved lives, he was welcomed to the inaugural ceremony with a round of applause.
On Wednesday he escorted Harris as a part of his new duties and was seen trailing behind her in a camel-colored coat and blue scarf, as she was sworn in as Vice President of the United States, making history as the nation’s first of black and South Asian descent.
A day after the riotm Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced the previous House Sergeant-at-Arms, Paul D. Irving, was resigning in the wake of the massive security breach.
Hero Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who blocked a MAGA mob from entering an unguarded Senate door during the January 6 siege, has been given a hero's welcome and escorted Vice President Kamala on Inauguration Day
Goodman pictured in a camel coat and blue scarf left walking alongside Kamala Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff, Joe Biden and Jill Biden on Wednesday morning
A hero's welcome: Goodman was announced into the inaugural ceremony and received a warm round of applause at the US Capitol on Wednesday
Goodman has been lauded as a hero for his valor in the insurrection, fending off rioters from entering the Senate chambers.
Video from the siege shows him walking backwards up the steps of the second floor of the Capitol building while trying to keep protesters away.
He then led rioters in the opposite direction the Senate chamber where Vice President Mike Pence and other lawmakers were being guarded, potentially saving lives.
The new position is a significant promotion for him and a group of lawmakers are seeking to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal for his actions.
Three members of Congress, Democratic Reps. Charlie Crist and Emanuel Cleaver II and Republican Rep. Nancy Mace already introduced legislation to award Goodman with the medal
Video of Officer Eugene Goodman went viral showing him distracting a mob of Trump supporters and leading them away from where VIPs like Pence had just been during the January 6 Capitol riot
US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is seen during a dress rehearsal for the Inaugural ceremony on Monday
'By putting his own life on the line and successfully, single-handedly leading insurrectionists away from the floor of the Senate Chamber, Officer Eugene Goodman performed his duty to protect Congress with distinction, and by his actions, Officer Goodman left an indelible mark on American history,' the bill reads.
Two Capitol Police officers died in the wake of the riot.
Capitol Police Office Eugene Goodman when he was serving in the Army
Officer Brian Sicknick, 42, died a day after the riot from injuries suffered while protecting the Capitol and Howard Liebengood died three days later while off duty.
Goodman's friends who have spoken with him in the days after the riot, including two fellow officers and a former colleague, told the Washington Post that he is private and reserved, and is finding the limelight 'a little scary'.
'He said he'd do the same thing again. He's not looking for any accolades,' an anonymous friend and fellow Capitol cop told the Post.
'But the attention is a little scary for him.'
Goodman has reportedly downplayed his label as a hero telling his colleagues he was just doing his job after footage of the incident was circulated worldwide.
'My job is to protect and serve,' he reportedly told them. 'And on that day, I was protecting.'
Goodman, from Southeast Washington, served in the US Army from 2002 to 2006.
He was deployed to Iraq as part of the 101st Airborne Division and was awarded a combat infantryman badge.
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