Maria Butina, an alleged Russian spy, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring with a Russian government official against the U.S. by attempting to infiltrate conservative political groups, including the National Rifle Association.
Butina, 30, admitted in federal court to operating in the U.S. “under the direction” of a Russian government official who is widely believed to be Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of Russias central bank.
Butina admitted in a plea agreement with prosecutors that she “sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics.”
She also acknowledged in the plea deal that she “agreed and conspired, with a Russian government official (Russian Official) and at least one other person … to act in the United States under the direction of Russian Official without prior notification to the Attorney General.”
The other person is believed to be Paul Erickson, Butinas boyfriend and a longtime GOP operative.
Together, Butina, Torshin and Erickson established contacts with NRA executives and other conservative political groups.
Alexander Torshin. (Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS via Getty Images)
Butina signaled for weeks she was negotiating a plea deal in her case. She was indicted July 17 on a conspiracy charge and on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent. Prosecutors in the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C., pointed to evidence showing Butina reporting back to Torshin about her activities in the U.S. The pair was able to establish contacts with NRA executives, largely through their pro-gun group, The Right to Bear Arms.
Butina and Torshin showed up at numerous NRA functions, and Butina gave talks at gun rights events touting her group, which sought to expand gun ownership rights in Russia.
Butinas plea deal with the government requires her to cooperate with prosecutors in their investigation. It is not clear whether she will provide information about Torshin or whether she will receive any protections from the U.S. government while she is cooperating.
Butina is also expected to provide information on Erickson. A former board member of the American Conservative Union, Erickson has reportedly been informed that he is a target of the investigation.
Erickson sought to help Butina and Torshin establish contacts with conservative groups, as well as with the Trump campaign. Erickson sent an email in May 2016 inconspicuously entitled “Kremlin Connection” to Trump campaign official Rick Dearborn. Erickson introduced Torshin as an emissary for Russian President Vladimir Putin and sought to arrange a meeting with Trump.
It is unclear how Dearborn responded to the email, but Torshin and Trump reportedly never met. Torshin did briefly greet Donald Trump Jr. later in May 2016 on the sidelines of the NRA convention in Louisville.
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