President Trumpβs grant of clemency to those who assaulted the Capitol in his name four years ago clashed with his predecessorβs decision to shield from retribution those who had sought to hold him to account.
The New York senator, who swallowed concerns for months and then stalled for time on sharing them with President Biden, ultimately told him he risked going down as one of the βdarkest figures.β
The speaker replaced a Republican who had criticized the president-elect and broken with him on key issues, and who had drawn the ire and suspicion of those close to the president-elect.
Luke Broadwater was at the Capitol when a pro-Trump mob stormed the complex on Jan. 6, 2021, as Congress was certifying Joseph R. Biden Jr.βs victory. Four years later, he reflects on what has changed.