Eugene Goodman to throw out first pitch at Nationals game

Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals’ game against the New York Mets on June 18, the team said Thursday.

Goodman has been hailed as a hero for luring a pro-Trump mob away from lawmakers during the deadly Jan. 6 riot.

Widely viewed video shared to Twitter shows Goodman, who is Black, luring a mob of rioters away from the Senate chamber as lawmakers, staff and reporters were evacuating.

During former President Trump’s second impeachment trial, Democrats showed footage of Goodman redirecting Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) away from the mob in the halls of the Senate. After seeing the footage, Romney expressed gratitude for the officer’s actions.

“I expressed my appreciation to him for coming to my aid and getting me back into the path of safety and express my appreciation for all that he did that day,” Romney said.

Weeks later, Goodman escorted Vice President Harris when she arrived at the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20.

The Senate passed legislation in February awarding Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal. The House later passed its own bill awarding Goodman the medal, along with Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died a day after defending the Capitol.