FRIGHTENING new footage has come to light showing exactly how close Capitol Hill rioters got to key US government figures, including Vice President Mike Pence, and prominent Senators Mitt Romney and Chuck Schumer.
Impeachment managers prosecuting former president Donald Trump in his Senate impeachment trial played the footage – which was compiled in a video timeline – to recreate the shocking assault on the seat of the US government on January 6.
It shows Senator Mitt Romney being ushered away by armed police, while Vice President Mike Pence narrowly escapes down a stairwell where rioters were close by – but being kept at bay by brave and hopelessly outnumbered law enforcement officers.
One officer, Eugene Goodman, can be seen fending off a large crown – some of which were brandishing blunt instruments – singlehandedly. At first reaching for his pistol, the heroic officer seemed to think better of it and take out a truncheon instead.
The footage shows how Goodman led the mob away from the chamber doors, which, had they breached, would have imperilled the staff taking refuge inside.
Congressman Eric Swalwell issued a harrowing warning to the House:
"You know how close you were to the mob…You were just 58 steps away."
Among those who were oblivious to the full extent of the danger was Senator Romney, who said he was unaware that Officer Goodman was the officer who directed him to safety, nor did he grasp how close he was to the rioters.
"It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes," he said after watching the disturbing footage, which gave a minute-by-minute account of the assault throughout the building.
“That was overwhelmingly distressing."
His son Matt Romney took to twitter to thank officer Goodman for his heroism.
