Senators Introduces Bill To Honor Officer

U.S. Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., have joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing legislation to award Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who heroically lured rioters away from the Senate floor during the insurrection attempt on Jan. 6, with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that can be bestowed by Congress.

“Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is an American hero. On Jan. 6, he helped save the U.S. Senate, the capitol and our democracy. Officer Goodman deserves the Congressional Gold Medal,” Daines said.

“When insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Officer Eugene Goodman put himself between a violent mob and the senators and staff in the Senate chamber,” Tester said. “He put his life on the line to serve and protect American democracy, and his heroic response to the confrontation saved the lives of many of my colleagues, Senate staff, and the former vice president. Officer Goodman, and all of the capitol police officers who defended the capitol that day, deserves our utmost gratitude and respect, and I’m proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation honoring his quick thinking and decisive action.” On Jan. 6, Officer Goodman was confronted by a mob of insurrectionists shortly after they breached the U.S. Capitol as members of the House of Representatives, Senate and the former vice president verified results of the 2020 election. Officer Goodman lured the rioters away from the unguarded entrance to the Senate floor, delaying their access to the chamber and protecting the lives of those inside. According to reports, Officer Goodman led the rioters away from the Senate at 2:14 p.m., the vice president was evacuated from the Senate chamber at 2:13 p.m.