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Rand Paul refuses to clap for Capitol cop Eugene Goodman in viral video, Internet labels him a 'sociopath'

'There is no bigger supporter of the Capitol Police than me... Any deceptive media edits are from lying scum bags,' tweeted the senator after the incident

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has found himself at the receiving end over his apparent lack of respect for Capitol cop Eugene Goodman. After the video of him refusing to applaud the officer during a standing ovation went viral, social media did not spare him at all.  

On Friday, shortly after the question-and-answer session former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, lawmakers gave Officer Goodman a standing ovation in the Senate chamber. But Rand Paul can be seen refusing to clap in the video. Following the incident, the senator took to Twitter, saying. "There is no bigger supporter of the Capitol Police than me. They saved our lives on the ball field. Yesterday I stood and cheered and clapped as we awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to Officer Goodman. Any deceptive media edits are from lying scum bags."

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After video footage showing Goodman leading a group of pro-Trump rioters up a staircase and away from an immediate entrance to the Senate chamber during the Capitol riot went viral on social media, the officer gained national attention and was hailed a hero. In addition to that, more footage released by House impeachment managers during the Senate trial earlier this week showed Goodman running down a hallway and redirecting Sen Mitt Romney (R-Utah) away from rioters.

On Friday, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor. "In the weeks after the attack on January the 6th, the world learned about the incredible, incredible bravery of officer Goodman on that fateful day. Here in this trial, we saw new video, powerful video showing calmness under pressure - his courage in the line of duty, his foresight in the midst of chaos, and his willingness to make himself a target of the mob's rage so that others might reach safety."

"Officer Goodman is in the chamber tonight. Officer Goodman, thank you," Schumer continued, gesturing to the officer. While lawmakers present in the chamber turned toward him to give him a standing ovation, Sen. Paul, who was not wearing a mask, rose to his feet to honor the officer but refused to clap for him. 

One tweet was enough to call for everyone's attention. "Watch Rand Paul as the Senate gives a standing ovation to Officer Goodman and all of the Captiol law officers." It took no time for the video to go viral, which has now been watched over 592,700. Referring to a 2017 incident, where Rand was attacked by his neighbor during a dispute over their yards, one user wrote on Twitter, "Rand Paul deserved that ass kicking he got from his neighbor!!!"

"When you see Rand Paul clearly uncomfortable with a public display of respect and appreciation for a black man's actions, you really appreciate just why it was he voted against making Lynching a federal hate crime," another user commented. Last year, Paul postponed an anti-lynching bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime. The bill was named the Emmett Till Antilynching Act after the 14-year-old black boy who was tortured and killed in 1955 in Mississippi.

"WTF is wrong with that man? There's seriously something wrong with the guy. He can't even pretend for 30 seconds to show some goddamn gratitude to a guy who saved lives that day," tweeted another user. "He is a sociopath in every sense of the word. Apathetic, unremorseful, unwilling to listen. That he sits in that seat is an abomination," another finally said.