BREAKING: Maria Butina has pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of th Kremlin while cultivating contacts at the NRA and Republican Party. She is in “ongoing cooperation” with the government.
Butina acknowledged acting at the direction of a Russian government official to ingratiate herself to senior Republican figures and gain entree to conferences and other events to transmit information back to Russia.
The charge she pleaded to carries a maximum sentence of 5 years, but prosecutors and Butina’s lawyers estimated that her cooperation and acceptance of guilt could bring the sentence down to 0-6 months.
A hearing on her cooperation set for Feb. 12.
A hearing on her cooperation set for Feb. 12.
The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney in DC. Mueller and the special counsel did not come up in the plea hearing.
Butina has now formally admitted that when she directly posed Trump this question about sanctions, she was acting on orders from Russian officials.
Butina was dressed in a green prison uniform, her hair in a single long braid. She answered the judge’s questions without emotion and said she was pleading guilty of her own free will and because she committed the crimes in question.
Notably, her attorney who previously claimed she was suffering “profound” psychological damage because she was imprisoned in mostly solitary housing, said she’s improved and is totally capable of competently pleading guilty.
He cited recent allowances for her to socialize.
He cited recent allowances for her to socialize.
The Judge, Tanya Chutkan, warned Butina she could face deportation for her offense. In addition to five year jail term, she could also face $250,000 penalty and 3 years of supervised release — if she’s allowed to stay in US. Actual sentence likely to be much less.
Lastly: No sentencing date set. Lawyers agree to hold a status hearing on Feb. 12 to assess her cooperation and set a sentencing date then. Butina will remain imprisoned in her current conditions until then.
Amusing side note: Butina’s lawyers had subpoenaed American University for info about her time there.
The judge revealed she had gotten ”numerous” pro se motions from students there asking her to quash the subpoena. She seemed bemused/annoyed by it.
The judge revealed she had gotten ”numerous” pro se motions from students there asking her to quash the subpoena. She seemed bemused/annoyed by it.
Amusing side note #2: The judge noted that by pleading guilty, Butina may be forfeiting “the right to possess a firearm.”
