Day 23: Goodman Unites Congress

Acting Deputy Senate Sergeant at Arms Eugene Goodman was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and commitment to duty during the insurrection at the United States Capitol Building, January 6th, 2021.

The Army veteran, who was serving as a Capitol Police Officer during the incident, was seen on security footage and other videos singlehandedly distracting a violent mob away from Senate Chambers that day, and directing Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) away from the danger.

The Senate, already gathered to hear opening arguments from former president Trump’s defense team and conduct a Q&A with both them and prosecutors in Trump’s second impeachment trial, gave Goodman a standing ovation and voted unanimously to give him the honor.

“We are incredibly proud of 18th Airborne Corps alum & national hero Eugene Goodman who will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress bestows on a civilian, for his role in protecting members of Congress & VP Mike Pence, from insurrectionists on Jan 6th,” his unit tweeted.

Goodman, a native Washingtonian served in Iraq and does not have a right to vote among the Congresspeople he protects.

One officer who also reported to duty that day said he was called “n***er” more than a dozen times. Some 140 officers were injured, two committed suicide and more than 200 National Guardsmen tested positive for Covid-19 in the aftermath of the insurrection. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died from his injuries and now Lies in Honor there.