NRA advocate Maria Butina convicted of being Russian spy
Maria Butina, an NRA member, is the first Russian spy convicted for seeking to influence US politics in the lead up to the 2016 election.
As a flame-haired young Russian woman, Maria Butina was always a strange fit for the blokey world of the National Rifle Association and the conservative Republican circles she moved in.
But she was the girlfriend of a longstanding Republican operative and she seemed to those who met her to be genuine in her passion for gun rights and for Donald Trump’s political ambitions.
Now Ms Butina, 30, finally admitted that there was nothing genuine about her. She was, in fact, a Russian spy, and has become the first to be convicted for seeking to influence US politics in the lead up to the 2016 election.
According to her plea deal with prosecutors, Ms Butina: “sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over US politics.”
She told US officials she conspired to infiltrate the American gun rights movement and American conservative political circles in order to gather intelligence and influence debate on Russia.
Although her case was not a part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, it shows the breadth of Russian attempts to influence US politics in the lead-up to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
Ms Butina did not do her spying in the shadows. She was an extroverted, openly pro-Russian advocate whose mobile phone cover had a picture of President Vladimir Putin riding topless on horseback.
At NRA gun shows she would pose for photos with guns wearing cowboy hats.
Her activities in the US were directed by former Russian politician Alexander Torshin. She also had a senior Republican boyfriend, Paul Erickson who helped her develop contacts and backchannels inside the NRA and conservative political circles.
Mr Erickson has not been charged but authorities are examining what he knew of her links to Russian intelligence agencies.
“Paul Erickson is a good American. He has done nothing to harm our country and never would,” Mr Erickson’s defence lawyer William Hurd said after the hearing.
Prosecutors initially accused Ms Butina of trading sexual favours for access to Republican networks, portraying her as a femme fatale, but then dropped such claims.
Despite her youth and her Russian nationality, she managed to meet and speak with numerous senior Republicans.
She posed for pictures with the Republican Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker as well as other presidential candidates and Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.
In July 2015, she asked Donald Trump (senior) a question at a public forum about how he would treat Russia if elected president.
“I know Putin and I’ll tell you what, we get along with Putin. Putin has no respect for President Obama,” Mr Trump replied.
Prosecutors say Mr Torshin and Mr Erickson helped her organise trips to Moscow for senior NRA figures.
Ms Butina also attended so-called “friendship dinners” to foster closer Russia-US relations. Prosecutors said she used these dinners “to meet individuals with political capital, learn their thoughts and inclinations toward Russia, gauge their responses to her and adjust her pitch accordingly.”
Ms Butina, who was also a graduate student at American University in Washington, routinely reported back to officials in Moscow her assessment of the American political mood and trends.
“Butina also sought Russian Official’s advice on whether to take meetings with certain people,” prosecutors said. “She asked him for direction on whether the Russian ‘government’ was ready to meet with some of those people.”
As part of her deal with prosecutors, Ms Betina was charged with only one offence, a conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign agent.
Although she faces up to five years jail, her plea agreement means she is likely to serve only a few months before being deported.
Russia described her arrest as politically motivated and said she only took the deal because she had no choice.
“She used this option to survive,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia
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