Legislation introduced Jan. 13 would authorize a congressional gold medal to recognize the efforts of U.S. Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman because of his activities in directing a bunch of marauding rioters from the Senate chambers Jan. 6 through deadly riots.
H.R. 305 premiered in the House together by U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
An Iraq combat vet and member of the U.S. Army’s 18th Airborne Corps, Goodman is famous for using only his police baton, diverting a furious cop up inside Capitol stepsaway in the Senate room.
“The United States Capitol was under assault by armed forces, violent extremists, and Officer Eugene Goodman was the one thing standing between the mob and the United States Senate,” Crist said. “I shudder to think what could have occurred had it not been for Officer Goodman’s quick thinking and devotion to his duty and his nation.”