While Jan 6th Hearings Continue, ‘Hero’ Eugene Goodman Testifies Against MAGA Rioter Who Attacked With Confederate Flagpole
A Capitol police officer since lauded for his bravery during the U.S. Capitol riot testified on Monday that a man carrying a Confederate battle flag jabbed at him with the flagpole before joining the mob that chased him up a staircase. The sight of the ultimate symbol of white supremacy within the halls of the Capitol was one of the more disturbing images from the insurrection.
As the January 6th House Select Committee held their second televised public hearing, Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman described his encounter with Kevin Seefried, and his adult son, Hunter, at their trial on charges that they stormed the Capitol together while the elder Seefried carried a Confederate flag.
Goodman testified that he recalled seeing Kevin Seefried standing alone in an archway and telling him to leave. Instead, Seefried cursed at him and jabbed at the officer with the base end of the flagpole three or four times without making contact with him, Goodman said.
Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who led a pro-Trump mob away from the entrance to the Senate chamber during the Jan. 6 attack, testified for the first time on Monday about his experience holding off the rioters. https://t.co/HvjSzN3wJ8 pic.twitter.com/7WCT9GfMJs
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 13, 2022
District Judge Trevor McFadden is hearing testimony without a jury for the Seefrieds’ bench trial, which started Monday and is scheduled to resume Tuesday. The Seefrieds waived their right to a jury trial, which means Judge McFadden, a Trump appointee, will decide their cases as the only judge hearing bench trials for January 6th riot cases.
Although most people will understandably be watching the 2d House Select Committee hearing this morning (as will I later on, on tape) I’m watching the Jan. 6 trials of Kevin & Hunter Seefried this morning. For multitaskers, I’ll be live tweeting. 1/ pic.twitter.com/maHp933UJh
— Roger Parloff (@rparloff) June 13, 2022
Goodman was hailed as a hero for leading a group of rioters away from the Senate chamber as senators and then-Vice President Mike Pence were being evacuated. Goodman also directed Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) to turn around and head away from the mob. Before his encounter with the mob inside the Capitol, Goodman joined other officers in trying to hold back rioters as they clashed with police outside the building.“It was like something out of medieval times, with one huge force clashing with another opposing force,” Goodman said. “I’ve never seen anything like that ever.”
Asked if he was threatened, Goodman said, Seefried told him, "'You better get the F out of my way. We're here. We're taking back our country.' Things like, 'We're here, we're taking back our country.' Things like "We're thousands, you're just one. You're by yourself.'"
— Spencer Hsu (@hsu_spencer) June 13, 2022
Eugene Goodman was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his heroic life-saving actions, although not all Congressional Republicans supported the vote.
U.S. Capitol Police Officers Eugene Goodman leaves United States District Court for the District of Columbia after testifying on Monday. pic.twitter.com/Dxj7klV7I3
— Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) June 13, 2022
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