Accused Russian spy Maria Butina has changed her plea to guilty in federal court for conspiring to influence U.S. politics through her connections with the National Rifle Association (NRA). This comes as the first Russian national to be convicted of attempting to impact American politics around the same time as the 2016 presidential election. As part of the deal, the federal prosecutors dropped the charge for Butina not filing as an unregistered foreign agent.

Butina, a Russian gun activist, admits to operating “under direction of” a Russian official, and she will cooperate with investigators. Reportedly she has already shared the name of an American with whom she was conspiring, as well as the Russian official directing her activities.

Butina Could Get Released for Time Served

Conspiracy against the United States is a federal offense under 18 USC Section 371. The maximum penalty is five years. Butina has been in a Virginia jail since July, since she was considered an extreme flight risk, and has a scheduled sentencing date of February 12, 2019. It is believed that in exchange for the plea deal, she will likely get a shortened sentence, possibly as short as “time served,” and then deported, according to court papers detailing the agreement.

Putin Performs a Sgt. Schultz “I Know Nothing”

According to Russian President Vladmir Putin, he does not know Butina, and claims the heads of Russian intelligence services don’t know anything about this operation. According to Putin, “no one knows anything about her”. However, Butina worked closely for years with Aleksandr P. Torshin, a Russian government official with ties to Russian Christian conservatives.

Related Resources:

  • 30 Subpoenas Issued in Trump Emoluments Clause Lawsuit (FindLaw Courtside)
  • Silicon Valley Targeted by Honeypot Spies (FindLaw Technologist)
  • U.S. Indicts Russian Spies for Yahoo Hack (FindLaw Technologist)

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