Mitt Romney praises Capitol cop for ushering him to safety during riot

Sen. Mitt Romney is praising Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman for directing him to safety during the Capitol riot after video of their encounter emerged during former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday after seeing the footage, Romney (R-Utah) first reacted by saying, “I look forward to thanking him when I next see him. I was very fortunate indeed that Officer Goodman was there to get me in the right direction.”

Later that day, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee was seen speaking to Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) in the Senate chamber when he pointed to Goodman, who happened to also be there.

All were seen looking back at Goodman and shaking their heads. Eventually, Portman left the group to go speak to Goodman. The two were seen talking and at one point shared a fist-bump.

Not long after, Romney was seen talking to Goodman again in the back of the Senate floor.

Asked by reporters what the two discussed, the Utah senator said, “I expressed my appreciation to him for coming to my aid, getting me back into the path of safety.”

“He was talking too 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,” he continued.

In the clip shown during testimony by House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Goodman could been seen warning a wandering Romney to turn around and take shelter as rioters smashed windows one floor below.

The two men, along with another who had been walking with Romney toward the Senate chamber, then began running together in the opposite direction.

Asked how he felt to see the video for the first time, the Utah senator did not hold back.

“It was obviously very troubling to see the great violence that our Capitol Police and others were subjected to. It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. That was overwhelmingly distressing and emotional.”