Crude testimony of police officers who defended the Capitol 3:23
(CNN) -
Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman has been hailed as an American hero for driving a growing mob away from Senate precincts during last week's attack.
Now, a bipartisan trio of lawmakers want to recognize Goodman with a Congressional Gold Medal for potentially saving lives in one of the darkest days in American history.
Democratic Representatives Charlie Crist of Florida and Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri, and Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina, introduced legislation this week to award Goodman the medal, reserved for Americans with "distinguished achievements and contributions" for his country.
READ: The Washington Post: Pence was closer to the violent mob in the Capitol than was initially known
Goodman's contribution was recorded.
Images captured by
Huffington Post
reporter
Igor Bobic show a mob of insurgents chasing Goodman down a Capitol staircase shortly after they stormed the scene.
When he reached a landing, Goodman looked to his left, where he saw that the door to the Senate chambers was still unguarded.
Then he led the agitators to the right, away from the legislators and in the direction of where the backup policemen were.
The Senate cameras would not be secured until a minute later, according to CNN's chronology of the events of the assault.
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'Thanks to his courage, we are here today,' says the legislator about the agent to whom they want to deliver the Congressional Gold Medal
«By risking his own life and successfully and single-handedly driving the insurgents from the floor of the Senate House, Agent Eugene Goodman fulfilled his duty to protect Congress with distinction, and with his actions, Agent Goodman left a mark indelible in American history, "says the legislation.
Lawmakers said in statements that the agent's actions saved lives.
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"When he was the only thing standing between the members of Congress and the violent mob, he quickly and selflessly redirected their fury on himself so that those members could escape," Mace said.
"Thanks to your courage, we are here today," he added.
CNN has reached out to Capitol Police for comment and is awaiting a response.
The department has not publicly identified Goodman on CNN or other outlets.
Among those previously honored with the Congressional Gold Medal are Tuskegee Airmen, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. (who was awarded posthumously) and Coretta Scott King.
It was also awarded to black mathematics who worked at NASA in the mid-20th century, including Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan.
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