US: Alleged Russian spy pleads guilty to conspiracy

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON (AA) – Maria Butina, who is accused of being a Russian operative and trying to influence U.S. policy, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy on Thursday.

During a plea hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington, Butina admitted that she and her boyfriend, Republican operative Paul Erickson, worked and conspired with a Russian agent to “establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics. ”

The Russian agent was reported to be Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia's central bank. Torshin was sanctioned by the U.S. in April.

After coming to the U.S., the alleged spy had enrolled as a graduate student at American University in Washington, and became a gun rights advocate, working with prominent members of the National Rifle Association.

Prosecutors said that in 2015, she had drafted a proposal called “Description of the Diplomacy Project ” in which she would act as a transmitter of communications between the U.S. and Russia.

Prosecutors also said the Russian national hosted “friendship dinners ” where she worked to create communication channels with high ranking U.S. politicians.

She was charged in July with conspiracy to work on behalf of Moscow's government, and being a Russian agent.

While the court had not decided on her sentencing she faces a maximum prison sentence of five years, and is very likely to face deportation after finishing out her sentence.

A later hearing is scheduled for February to discuss when Butina should be sentenced.

The hearing marks the first time a Russian national has been convicted of seeking to influence U.S. politics in the span of the 2016 presidential election.

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