Today’s Headlines and Commentary

Subscribe to receive this newsletter directly to your inbox.

In its second public hearing, the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol detailed former President Trump’s decision to promote false claims of election fraud despite being told by aides that they had no factual basis, writes the New York Times. The committee heard in-person and video testimony, including from former Attorney General William Barr and former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien who was scheduled to speak in person, but withdrew due to a family emergency.

Senate negotiators announced that they have reached a bipartisan agreement on gun safety legislation on Sunday, reports The New York Times. The deal is the first major step toward reform on an issue that has long faced congressional deadlock. The agreement includes enhanced background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21 and a provision that would extend a prohibition on gun possession for partners of domestic abusers.

According to a senior U.S. government official, Russian forces are likely to seize control of the whole Luhansk region of Ukraine within a matter of weeks, according to the Washington Post. The news comes as Ukrainian casualties mount amid a struggle to combat the Russian assault. Around 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since Russia began the invasion, according to a Ukrainian military adviser.

The New York Times obtained recently released photos of the first prisoners brought to Guantanamo Bay. The pictures were released following a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the New York Times and were taken by military photographers to provide senior leaders with a look into the detention operation at the base in its early years.

According to the South Korean military, North Korea fired numerous artillery shells on Sunday, reports Reuters. The move comes after leader Kim Jong Un said he planned to increase the nation’s military strength at The Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea last week.

Thirty one members of white supremacist group Patriot Front were arrested and charged with conspiracy to riot on Saturday in Idaho, writes The New York Times. They had allegedly planned to riot at a local Pride event but were stopped beforehand, according to police. The members who were arrested came from several states throughout the country and many had shields and shinguards. One smoke grenade was found, but no other weapons were noted by authorities.

According to China’s defense minister, the country is expanding its nuclear arsenal in response to the current international security landscape, reports The Wall Street Journal. The statement has been seen as a direct response to growing American influence in Asia. The Chinese general also stated that “no one should ever underestimate the resolve and ability of the Chinese military to safeguard its territorial integrity,” in response to the issue of Taiwanese independence.

ICYMI: The Weekend on Lawfare

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of The Lawfare Podcast in which Benjamin Wittes sat down on Twitter Spaces with Quinta Jurecic, Molly Reynolds, and Roger Parloff to discuss the first public hearing held by House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and answer questions from the audience.

Lauren Fredericks and Matthew Levitt examined the case of entities that are identified but not formally listed in reports by the U.N. as having connections to terrorist activity.

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.