New security images of the Assault on the Capitol filed Wednesday by the House’s dismissal managers showed the official Eugene Goodman directing Sen. Mitt Romney to turn to security on Jan. 6. Romney seemed to be heading toward the riot police when Goodman pushed him away.
The images were reproduced Wednesday at the trial for the removal of former President Trump. House dismissal managers presented the new images in their initial arguments against Mr. Trump, who was charged by the House with incitement to riot insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
The images showed the extent to which the Utah Republican came to clash with the angry mob, which could probably have happened if Goodman had not intervened. Goodman tried to stop the crowd and distracted them from the Senate chamber.
“Officer Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney and orders him to turn around to make sure,” said Stacey Plaskett, the house’s judicial expedition director, who described the images. security silences as he interpreted them.
Goodman drove many of the rioters away from the Senate chamber, buying up critical time for lawmakers to protect themselves. Goodman also gained time for Vice President Mike Pence and his family to escape to a safe place, just moments before the riots had seen the vice president.
This was just one of the unpublished images the house’s dismissal managers saw on Wednesday.
Only a camera angle is allowed during the Senate trial, which means viewers don’t get a chance to see senators ’reactions. But the pool reporter inside the room at the time said Romney watched the footage closely, as it showed Goodman could save his life. Most senators also clung to the images, pool reporters reported.
During the break, Romney told reporters it was “worrying” to see the footage. He also said he didn’t know he was so close to the crowd and he didn’t know it was Goodman who had guided him to safety.
“I’m really looking forward to thanking him when I see him,” Romney said. “That I was very lucky that Officer Goodman was there to take me in the right direction.”
Eric Swalwell, the house’s prosecution manager, reminded senators they were only “58 steps away” from where the crowd had gathered when they were evacuated from the chamber at 2:30 p.m. The crowd arrived at the Senate Gallery at 2:45 p.m.
– Grace Segers of CBS News contributed to this report.