Sen. Mitt Romney says he thanked Officer Eugene Goodman after new video showed him leading the senator away from the mob during the Capitol riot
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
- New video shows Officer Eugene Goodman leading Sen. Mitt Romney to safety during the Capitol riot.
- Goodman had previously been hailed as a hero for leading the pro-Trump mob away from the Senate chamber.
- After seeing the new video during Trump's impeachment trial, Romney said he thanked Goodman.
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Sen. Mitt Romney told reporters he thanked Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman for leading him to safety during the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
A newly released video, presented Wednesday during the Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, showed Romney walking down a hallway in the Capitol, before being passed by a running Goodman who immediately directs the senator to go the other direction to avoid the mob that had just breached the building.
Romney was seen later Wednesday speaking with Goodman in the Senate chamber, CNN reported.
"I expressed my appreciation to him for coming to my aid and getting me back into the path of safety and expressed my appreciation for all that he did that day, and he took me through his full day," Romney said, according to CNN.
"And he was exhausted going from one part of the building to the other, up and down stairs. He indicated that he had to breathe a lot of bear spray and tear gas, and that he was nauseated. And so, he was talking to me about the whole day, and I just again told him how much I appreciated him, making sure that I was out of harm's way."
Romney has drawn the ire of many Trump supporters for his frequent criticism of the former president. He was also the only Republican senator who voted to convict Trump during his first impeachment trial last year.
Goodman had previously made headlines following the Capitol attack and was hailed as a hero for single-handedly leading a mob of Trump supporters away from the Senate chamber as lawmakers were still evacuating. Those actions were also captured in an intense video that showed Goodman facing off with a large group.
Romney said Wednesday he did not realize Goodman was the same officer that had directed him to safety, adding that "I was very fortunate indeed that Officer Goodman was there."
The clip of Goodman directing Romney was one of many presented during the second day of Trump's impeachment trial over his role in inciting the Capitol siege.
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