Maria Butina, a 29-year old American University graduate student, cultivated ties with the NRA and US gun rights advocates/politicians for years.
Yesterday she was arrested and charged with working as a Russian foreign agent.
Yesterday she was arrested and charged with working as a Russian foreign agent.
Remember that super weird 2013 Russian gun rights video that John Bolton appeared in?
Turns out that was through Maria Butina's gun rights group 👀
Turns out that was through Maria Butina's gun rights group 👀
Butina's lawyer says charges are "overblown" - "'friendship dinner' at Bistro Bis with a group of Americans and Russians to discuss foreign relations between the two countries — hardly a shocking development for a Russian International Relations student living in DC" 
This affadavit in Maria Butina's case is just jam-packed with incredible quotes.
"all that we needed is "yes" from Putin's side. The rest is easier."
"all that we needed is "yes" from Putin's side. The rest is easier."
Why use the NRA as a conduit? Look how easy it was for an alleged Russian foreign agent to get easy access to lots of GOP presidential candidates
I mean come on.
Russia wanted to use the NRA's national convention to make "first contact" w the Trump campaign.
“Putin is deadly serious about building a good relationship with Mr. Trump. He wants to extend an invitation to visit him in the Kremlin before the election."
“Putin is deadly serious about building a good relationship with Mr. Trump. He wants to extend an invitation to visit him in the Kremlin before the election."
Interesting - quite a lot of US campaign-linked folks overlapping in Moscow in Dec. 2015.
The trip organized by Butina & Torshin for US NRA officials, Erickson, Clarke & co was there the same day Flynn infamously sat w/ Putin at RT gala dinner - Dec. 10
The trip organized by Butina & Torshin for US NRA officials, Erickson, Clarke & co was there the same day Flynn infamously sat w/ Putin at RT gala dinner - Dec. 10
Here's the 2015 video of Maria Butina asking Trump about relations with Russia the month after he announced his candidacy.
"I don't think you'd need the sanctions," he said.
"I don't think you'd need the sanctions," he said.
Filing this one under "I mean, come on"
