Eugene Goodman

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Eugene Goodman
P20230106AS-1752 (52644829441).jpg
Goodman (left) receiving the Presidential Citizens Medal from US President Joe Biden in 2023
Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
Acting
January 20, 2021 –March 2, 2021
January 6 United
States Capitol attack
Timeline • Planning
Background
2020 presidential election
and other causes
Related groups and persons
Participants
Notable people
Organizations
Law enforcement response
Aftermath
Biden inauguration
Investigations and charges
Corporate actions
Reactions
Impeachment and 2024 presidential election

Those present at the time of the event, including Democratic and Republican legislators and members of the press, praised Goodman for his quick thinking and brave actions. [15] [16] [17] [18] Republican Senator Ben Sasse credited Goodman with having "single-handedly prevented untold bloodshed". [17]

Goodman's former unit, the XVIII Airborne Corps, issued a statement shortly after the riot, commending his valor and saying that he "was a hero long before last Wednesday". [19]

Goodman's actions were captured in video footage taken by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic. [20] Bobic's footage of Goodman went viral on the internet, receiving more than 10 million views. [21] [22] A second video of Goodman's confrontation with the crowd was published by ProPublica on January 15. [22]

Goodman's actions have been credited with saving the lives of those who remained in the chambers of Congress, those in the hallways who were attempting to evacuate, [23] and the rioters themselves, who might otherwise have drawn forceful responses as with Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was shot while approaching the House chamber.

A video released on February 10, 2021, during the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, showed Goodman leading Utah Senator Mitt Romney away from approaching rioters during the January 6 attack. [24] Romney later stated he did not know how close he was and he did not know it was Goodman who diverted him away from the rioters but he looked forward to thanking Goodman. [25]

Honors

Goodman was honored at a Washington Nationals baseball game by being invited to throw the first pitch. Capitol police officer tossing the first pitch at Nationals Park (cropped).jpg
Goodman was honored at a Washington Nationals baseball game by being invited to throw the first pitch.

Following the attack on the Capitol, Jaime Harrison and others called for Goodman to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. [11] [26] A bipartisan resolution (H.Res.305) was introduced on January 13, 2021, by Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) to award the medal to Goodman. [27] [28] [29]

Rep. Cleaver, one of the three original co-sponsors of the bill, [27] wrote that, "[i]f 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. With this prestigious award, we can show our gratitude to Officer Goodman for saving countless lives and defending our democracy." [30]

Goodman also was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by both the secretary and chief of staff of the U.S. Army. [31]

In addition, online petitions at Care2 and Change.org to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Goodman had received more than 83,500 signatures as of January 21, 2021. [32] Following the event, Goodman said he was not looking for any accolades and expressed concern about potentially being targeted by extremists, but he insisted that he would "do the same thing again". [3]

On January 20, 2021, Goodman escorted Kamala Harris to her inauguration as the Vice President of the United States. [33] He was announced as the Acting Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; when stepping out onto the inauguration platform ahead of Harris, he received a standing ovation and cheers from those attending the ceremony. [34]

Medals

On February 12, 2021, the U.S. Senate voted by unanimous consent to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on Eugene Goodman. He had been invited to attend the proceedings and was present in the Senate Chamber for the vote, at which time, Goodman received a standing ovation from the members. [5] On August 5, 2021, both chambers passed a concurrent resolution to award the Congressional Gold Medal to "The United States Capitol Police and those who protected the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021," without specific reference to Goodman. No action was ever taken in the House of Representatives to agree to the Senate's resolution awarding Goodman an individual Congressional Gold Medal as both chambers must pass the bill for an award to be conferred.

See also

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The following article is a broad timeline of the course of events surrounding the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, by rioters supporting United States President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Pro-Trump rioters stormed the United States Capitol after assembling on the Ellipse of the Capitol complex for a rally headlined as the "Save America March".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Domestic reactions to the January 6 United States Capitol attack</span>

In the aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, after drawing widespread condemnation from the U.S. Congress, members of his administration, and the media, 45th U.S. President Donald Trump released a video-taped statement on January 7, reportedly to stop the resignations of his staff and the threats of impeachment or removal from office. In the statement, he condemned the violence at the U.S. Capitol, saying that "a new administration will be inaugurated", which was widely seen as a concession, and his "focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power" to the Joe Biden administration. Vanity Fair reported that Trump was at least partially convinced to make the statement by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who told Trump a sufficient number of Senate Republicans would support removing him from office unless he conceded. Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary, had attempted to distance the administration from the rioters' behavior in a televised statement earlier in the day. On January 9, The New York Times reported that Trump had told White House aides he regretted committing to an orderly transition of power and would never resign from office. In a March 25 interview on Fox News, Trump defended the Capitol attackers, saying they were patriots who posed "zero threat", and he criticized law enforcement for "persecuting" the rioters.

The January 6 United States Capitol attack was followed by political, legal, and social repercussions. The second impeachment of Donald Trump, who was charged for incitement of insurrection for his conduct, occurred on January 13. At the same time, Cabinet officials were pressured to invoke the 25th Amendment for removing Trump from office. Trump was subsequently acquitted in the Senate trial, which was held in February after Trump had already left office. The result was a 57–43 vote in favor of conviction, with every Democrat and seven Republicans voting to convict, but two-thirds of the Senate are required to convict. Many in the Trump administration resigned. Several large companies announced they were halting all political donations, and others have suspended funding the lawmakers who had objected to certifying Electoral College results. A bill was introduced to form an independent commission, similar to the 9/11 Commission, to investigate the events surrounding the attack; it passed the House but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate. The House then approved a House "select committee" to investigate the attack. In June, the Senate released the results of its own investigation of the attack. The event led to strong criticism of law enforcement agencies. Leading figures within the United States Capitol Police resigned. A large-scale criminal investigation was undertaken, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opening more than 1,200 case files. Federal law enforcement undertook a nationwide manhunt for the perpetrators, with arrests and indictments following within days. Over 890 people had been found guilty of federal crimes.

Law enforcement mounted a response to the January 6 United States Capitol attack, initially failing to maintain security perimeters and protect parts of the building from being breached and occupied, but succeeding at protecting members of Congress, and subsequently, as reinforcements arrived, to secure the breached Capitol.

Jeffrey L. Smith, a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officer, shot himself on January 15, 2021, after he assisted the United States Capitol Police on January 6, during the response to the storming of the Capitol. A psychiatrist hired by Officer Smith's widow found that drastic changes in Smith's behavior after January 6 are evidence that the attack on the Capitol was the precipitating event leading to his suicide. On October 13, 2021, two United States Senators and several members of the House of Representatives called for the Mayor to award Line of Duty benefits to Officer Smith and his widow Erin Smith. On March 7, 2022, Officer Smith's death was officially ruled line of duty by the District of Columbia. After petition by his widow, DC Police and Firefighters' Retirement and Relief Board found that the "direct and sole" cause of Officer Smith's death were the injuries he received in the line of duty while responding to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Howard Charles Liebengood, a United States Capitol Police officer, died by suicide on January 9, 2021, three days after he participated in the law enforcement response to the Capitol attack. He was the first of what were reported as two police suicides in the immediate aftermath of the attack, though Metropolitan Police (MPD) officer Jeffrey L. Smith's widow disputes the manner of death. In the months after the civil disturbance at the Capitol, it was generally reported that the deaths of five people who were present have, to varying degrees, been related to the event. Some members of Congress and press reports included these two in the number of fatalities, for a total of seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Dunn (police officer)</span> American police officer (born 1983)

Harry Anthony Dunn is an American author, political candidate, and former police officer who served in the United States Capitol Police from 2008 to 2023. Dunn was one of several officers present during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and testified with his colleagues before the United States Congress for the House Select Committee investigating the attack. His efforts have earned him both the Congressional Gold Medal and Presidential Citizens Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquilino Gonell</span> U.S. Capitol Police officer

Aquilino Gonell is a Dominican-American former sergeant of the United States Capitol Police who is known for the defending the Capitol building and its occupants during the January 6, 2021 attack. In 2022, he retired from the Capitol Police due to injuries he sustained during the attack. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022 and the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023. He is the author of American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.

References

  1. 1 2 Cochrane, Emily (January 7, 2021). "Senate sergeant-at-arms resigns following House's top security official stepping down". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Majority Leader Schumer Announces New Senate Sergeant At Arms Leadership Team With Karen Gibson As SAA, Kelly Fado As Deputy SAA And Jennifer Hemingway As Chief Of Staff" (Press release). Senate Democratic Caucus. March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tan, Rebecca (January 14, 2021). "A Black officer faced down a mostly White mob at the Capitol: Meet Eugene Goodman". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Brown, Stacy M. (January 23, 2021). "'Hero' Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman promoted to acting deputy sergeant-at-arms". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Marcus, Josh (February 13, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, police officer hailed as Capitol riots hero, awarded congressional medal". The Independent. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Officer Eugene Goodman Congressional Gold Medal Act (2021 - H.R. 305)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Shane, Leo III (January 13, 2021). "Hero Capitol Police officer is a 101st Airborne veteran". Military Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Stephon (January 14, 2021). "American Hero: Eugene Goodman defends the Capitol". New York Amsterdam News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  9. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; Schmitt, Eric (February 12, 2021). "Videos Turn Eugene Goodman Into a Reluctant Hero in the Capitol Attack". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Video of this lone Capitol Police officer speaks volumes — even if he won't". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 15, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Andrew, Scottie (January 12, 2021). "How a lone Capitol Police officer lured insurrectionists away from the Senate chambers". CNN. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. ↑ O'Kane, Caitlin (January 12, 2021). "Black officer seen risking his life to lead Capitol mob away from Senate chamber hailed as a hero". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. ↑ Honderich, Holly (January 13, 2021). "Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman hailed as 'a hero'". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  14. ↑ Sturdivant, Randolph Terrance (January 11, 2021). "A lone Black officer faced down violent US Capitol mob, fooled them to save lives | Reese's Final Thought". WUSA9. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  15. ↑ Longo, Adam; Boykin, Nick (January 11, 2021). "Congressional lawmakers share 'frightening' insight into Capitol riot, how a police officer saved lives". WFAA. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  16. ↑ "'He's a Hero!': Capitol Officer Could Receive Congressional Gold Medal". NBC Washington. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  17. 1 2 Sasse, Ben (January 16, 2021). "QAnon Is Destroying the GOP From Within". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Jason (January 15, 2021). "Capitol officer Eugene Goodman must not fade into history — it's happened before". TheGrio. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ Rahman, Khaleda (January 14, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, Capitol Officer Who Lured Mob Away, Hailed by His Former Airborne Corps". Newsweek. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ McLaughlin, Kelly (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is being hailed as a hero for facing down an angry mob of Trump supporters and drawing them away from the Senate chamber". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  21. ↑ Qamar, Aysha (January 14, 2021). "He went viral for saving the Senate, but Army vet Eugene Goodman 'was a hero long before'". Daily Kos. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  22. 1 2 Gillum, Jack (January 15, 2021). ""Where They Countin' the Votes?!": New Video Details Tense Moments as Capitol Mob Sought Out Lawmakers". ProPublica. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  23. ↑ Bacon, John (January 11, 2021). "Capitol Police officer being hailed as a hero for drawing angry mob away from Senate floor". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  24. ↑ McLeod, Paul (February 10, 2021). "New Impeachment Video Shows Officer Eugene Goodman Saving Mitt Romney From Running Into Capitol Rioters". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Live: Day 2 Of The Second Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump | NBC News NOW - YouTube". YouTube . February 11, 2021. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  26. ↑ Harrison, Jaime [@harrisonjaime] (January 10, 2021). "The word hero does not appropriately describe officer Eugene Goodman. His judgment & heroism may have saved our Republic. I hope @SpeakerPelosi @SenSchumer @WhipClyburn consider him for the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is the least we can do" (Tweet). Retrieved January 20, 2021– via Twitter.
  27. 1 2 "H.R.305 – To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Officer Eugene Goodman". Congress.gov. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  28. ↑ Blitzer, Ronn (January 14, 2021). "Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman should be awarded Congressional Gold Medal, lawmakers say in resolution". Fox News. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  29. ↑ Williams, Jordan (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers introduce bill to award Capitol Police officer Congressional Gold Medal". The Hill. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  30. ↑ Guerilus, Stephanie (January 14, 2021). "Lawmakers want to honor Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman with Congressional Gold Medal". TheGrio. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  31. ↑ Jacobo, Julia; Turner, Trish (February 11, 2021). "Mitt Romney thanks Capitol Officer Eugene Goodman for leading him away from rioters". ABC News. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  32. ↑ Major, Derek (January 13, 2021). "Petition to Award Black Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman a Medal for Bravery Picking Up Steam". Black Enterprise. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  33. ↑ Cochrane, Emily (January 20, 2021). "Eugene Goodman, a Capitol Police officer who diverted the mob during the riot, escorted Harris". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  34. ↑ Kamala Harris Escorted By Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman. NBC News. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021– via YouTube.
  35. ↑ "Biden grants Presidential Citizens Medals 2 years after Jan. 6 Capitol attack". CBS News . January 6, 2023.
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