Maria Butina pleads guilty, says she conspired to infiltrate U.S. political groups

Accused Russian spy Maria Butina pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to conspiring to infiltrate Republican political groups, including the National Rifle Association, with the goal of advancing Russian interests before and after the 2016 presidential election.

The NRA’s embarrassment over being duped by Butina soon could be replaced by worry.

Democrats indicated this week they want to open investigations into the pro-gun group’s possible ties to Russia once they take over the House next month. Some Democrats have gone as far as saying the NRA may have laundered Russian money to the Trump campaign ahead of the 2016 election.

In March, the NRA said it had received about $2,500 in donations from Russian sources.

“The guilty plea of Russian operative Maria Butina today raises questions of what did @NRA officials know and when did they know it? The plea also raises the issue of what GOP party members or electeds may have known,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, California Democrat, tweeted just after Butina’s hearing.

The NRA was mum Thursday after prosecutors said Butina viewed the group as key to blending into conservative circles to advance Moscow’s agenda.

“Butina sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics,” prosecutor Erik Kenerson told a Washington, D.C., courtroom.

She is the first Russian national convicted of seeking to influence the U.S. and the 2016 election. Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian efforts to meddle in the 2016 election, has charged 25 Russian agents and three Russian companies, but those cases are still pending.

The charges brought against Butina were filed by prosecutors in Washington and do not appear to be related to Mr. Mueller’s Russia probe.

Butina, who was arrested in July, did not speak in court Thursday beyond agreeing with the set of facts outlined by Mr. Kenerson. He said that as early as 2015 she predicted Donald Trump’s presidential victory and hatched a plan to become a conduit between Russia and administration officials. She also admitted to acting under the direction of a Russian banking official with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“She laid the groundwork,” Mr. Kenerson said.

Although Mr. Kenerson did not name the Russian official, it is widely believed to be Alexander Torshin.

Butina acknowledged that she came to the U.S. under the guise of an American University student and began attending conferences associated with the Republican Party, including the NRA. At those conferences she met GOP heavyweights including then-candidate Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Other activities undertaken by Butina included hosting “friendship dinners” with influential Americans to discuss U.S.-Russian policy, organizing a Russian delegation to attend the National Prayer Breakfast in 2017, and inviting NRA members to Moscow to meet with Russian officials, according to court documents.

Russian officials have denied any connection to Butina.

“When I first heard about [Butina], I interviewed all the heads of the Russian special services. Who is that? No one knows anything about her,” Mr. Putin said this week.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Butina made the plea deal “to survive,” calling her prosecution politically motivated.

Butina has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Her cooperation will focus on interactions she and her boyfriend, Paul Erickson, had with Mr. Toshin, who directed her operations. Mr. Erickson is believed to be the individual identified in court documents as U.S. Person 1, who helped introduce her to top U.S. politicians.

Mr. Erickson, a longtime GOP political operative, has not been charged with a crime but is a target of the investigation, according to press reports earlier this week.

As part of her deal, Butina pleaded guilty to conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Russia.

“Guilty,” Butina responded when asked by Washington-based U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkin how she would plead.

She faces up to five years in prison and could be deported at any time after her sentencing.

A sentencing date has not been set, but a status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 5. Butina’s attorney, Robert Driscoll, said she will voluntarily remain in custody until her sentencing.