How do justice in a sense to how close this democracy came? Hi and welcome back to Amicus. This is Slate's podcast about the law and the rule of law and the courts and the justice system.

I'm Dahlia Lithwick.

I covered the law and the courts for Slate.

This week we're going to bring you another extra off week edition of the show to talk about events at the

National Capitol.

On Wednesday, as both Houses of Congress convened to formally ratify the election of Joe Biden as President of the

United States. A mob of rioters, some armed, stormed the barricades around the buildings,

broke windows, climbed walls.

Capital police tasked with defending the capital and members of Congress

were completely overwhelmed as riders smashed into both the House and the Senate chambers.

Representatives were rushed to secure locations, some of them pulled on gas masks.

After several hours and a small smattering of arrests,

the insurrectionists mostly left the building,

just walking out the doors.

The counting of electoral votes that had stopped that afternoon,

continued into the evening and early Thursday morning the election was finally formally

called for Joe Biden.

As of this taping, five people are dead.

As of this taping, two members of Trump's cabinet have resigned.

As of this taping, talk of invoking the 25th Amendment has largely been quelled by Vice President

Mike Pence.

As of this taping, articles of impeachment have been drawn up reportedly to be introduced in the house on Monday.

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