Lawyers for accused Russian agent Maria Butina ask judge to dismiss that charge, arguing the US has "failed to provide her with notice of what conduct is criminal and what conduct is not." 1/x
Butina team says govt doesn't allege she was an agent of Russia in the traditional sens but rather she ran afoul of law bc "she shared her memorable American happenings and naive, youthful optimism...with others." 2/x
"If fantasizing about a future career in diplomacy & jabbering about personal events and peacebuilding aspirations w others like a friend & mentor who happens to be an officer from some foreign govt agency...makes one a foreign agent," then lots of people are breaking the law.
Basically, Butina's lawyers argue the statute, acting within the US as an agent of a foreign govt, is unconstitutional bc it is too broad and captures all sorts of First Amendment protected activity.
