Thread: Russian woman who tried to broker Trump-Putin meetings is busted for espionage

Russian woman who tried to broker Trump-Putin meetings is busted for espionage

By Nikki Schwab
July 16, 2018 | 3:51pm | Updated


Maria Butina at a rally in Moscow in 2013Zuma Press


WASHINGTON – A 29-year-old Russian with links to the National Rifle Association who reportedly tried to broker secret meetings between President Trump and Vladimir Putin was charged Monday with acting as an agent of the Russian Federation within the US.

The Justice Department said that Maria Butina was “developing relationships with U.S. persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation.”

The announcement came just hours after Trump said at a joint press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin that there’s no reason Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US presidential election.

Butina is a known protege of Alexander Torshin, who McClatchy reported in January was being investigated by the FBI to see if he had been funneling money illegally to the NRA to help President Trump win the White House.

Butina twice tried to arrange meetings between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the 2016 US presidential election, according to the New York Times.

During the 2016 cycle, the NRA donated $30.3 million to Trump’s campaign, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Butina was charged because she did not disclose she was acting as an agent to the Russian government to U.S. officials, which is required by law.

https://nypost.com/2018/07/16/russia...ed-for-spying/

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Accused Russian agent Butina poised to plead guilty-court filing

By Sarah N. Lynch
,Reuters•December 10, 2018

Accused Russian agent Maria Butina poised to plead guilty-court filing


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Accused Russian agent Maria Butina appeared poised this week to plead guilty in the case, after her lawyers and prosecutors filed a joint motion asking a federal judge on Monday to schedule a change of plea hearing this week.

The filing comes after Butina's attorney and prosecutors revealed last month they were actively in talks to settle the case.

Butina had previously pleaded not guilty to charges that she was acting as an agent of the Russian government and conspiring to take actions on Russia's behalf.

Specifically, prosecutors have accused the former American University graduate student of working with a Russian official and two U.S. citizens to try to infiltrate the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby group that has close ties to Republican politicians including President Donald Trump, and influence American foreign policy toward Russia.

Butina’s lawyers previously identified the Russian official with whom she was accused of working as Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia’s central bank who was hit with U.S. Treasury Department sanctions in April.

They identified one of the two Americans mentioned in the criminal complaint as being Paul Erickson, a conservative U.S. political activist who was dating Butina. Neither Erickson nor Torshin have been accused by prosecutors of wrongdoing.

Butina has been in jail since her arrest in July.

In the joint motion filed Monday morning, prosecutors and defense lawyers proposed holding a hearing sometime between Tuesday and Thursday of this week.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/accused-r...5--sector.html

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Maria Butina: Russian agent sentenced to 18 months in prison

• 23 minutes ago

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionMaria Butina has been sentenced after pleading guilty to helping the Russian government attempt to US policy
A Russian agent who tried to infiltrate US political groups has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, telling the court: "I destroyed my own life."

Maria Butina tried to insinuate herself into the National Rifle Association (NRA) in an effort to sway American policies in favour of Moscow.

After pleading not guilty, she later reversed her position, admitting to a single count of conspiracy in December.

The 30-year-old has been in custody since July.
She will face deportation immediately after her sentence is served.

Image copyrightCIVIC CHAMBER OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATIONImage captionButina tried to infiltrate the National Rifle Association (NRA) in an effort to influence US policies
Butina told the court: "My parents discovered my arrest on the morning news they watch in their rural house in a Siberian village.
"I love them dearly, but I harmed them morally and financially. They are suffering from all of that.
"I destroyed my own life as well. I came to the United States not under any orders, but with hope, and now nothing remains but penitence."
Despite prosecutor's claims that she damaged US national security, Butina said that she had no intention of harming the American people.
Her sentencing came on the same day that US President Donald Trump travelled to speak at the NRA convention in Indianapolis.
In court on Friday, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan said she had received and reviewed two dozen character letters for Butina.

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But the judge was reportedly unmoved by Butina's apology, saying that her actions "jeopardised our country's national security", US media said.
"This was no simple misunderstanding by a overeager foreign student," Judge Chutkan said.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Chutkan wished Butina well.
"You are a young woman, you are smart, you are hard working." Judge Chutkan said to Butina, "I wish you the best luck."
Federal prosecutor Erik Kenserson described Butina as an agent of a foreign government with "undoubtedly serious" intentions, though stopped short of calling her activities espionage.
"While it is certainly true that the defendant was an American university student," Mr Kenerson said, "She did this for the benefit of the Russian Federation."
As part of a plea deal, Butina had agreed to co-operate with investigators. Judge Chutkan noted on Friday that Butina had provided "substantial assistance" to law enforcement.
Prosecutors said they expected the deal would provide information about Russia's efforts to interfere in US politics.
Prosecutors said Butina was directed by a senior Russian official to infiltrate conservative political groups, including an unnamed pro-gun lobbying organisation presumed to be the NRA, which is allied with Mr Trump's Republican party.
Image copyrightWILLIAM HENNESSY JRImage captionButina pleaded guilty after reaching a deal with prosecutors
The case has no connection with the Mueller inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
In a statement read in court, one of the prosecutors said Butina had drafted, in March 2015, a document called "Diplomacy Project" that called for unofficial communication lines between high-ranking US officials and Russia.
She acknowledged that she worked with two Americans and a Russian official.
The Russian government has previously described the case as "fabricated".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48070413

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