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Maria Butina Sentenced for Role in Russian Influence Campaign Maria Butina Sentenced for Role in Russian Influence Campaign
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — The gun-loving Russian woman who ran a secret operation to influence conservative Americans was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison.WASHINGTON — The gun-loving Russian woman who ran a secret operation to influence conservative Americans was sentenced on Friday to 18 months in prison.
The woman, Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty late last year to conspiring to act as a foreign agent, admitting that she was part of an organized Russian campaign to create unofficial lines of communication between Russia and influential Republicans. Prosecutors initially described her as a charming operative who traded sex for access to influence powerful conservative circles, including the National Rifle Association, though they later acknowledged being “mistaken” on the salacious aspect of the accusations.The woman, Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty late last year to conspiring to act as a foreign agent, admitting that she was part of an organized Russian campaign to create unofficial lines of communication between Russia and influential Republicans. Prosecutors initially described her as a charming operative who traded sex for access to influence powerful conservative circles, including the National Rifle Association, though they later acknowledged being “mistaken” on the salacious aspect of the accusations.
The Justice Department had recommended an 18-month sentence and cited “substantial assistance” that Ms. Butina provided to investigators. Including time served, Ms. Butina will be incarcerated nine more months and then promptly deported. Ms. Butina has been incarcerated for nine months, and her lawyers recommended no further time.The Justice Department had recommended an 18-month sentence and cited “substantial assistance” that Ms. Butina provided to investigators. Including time served, Ms. Butina will be incarcerated nine more months and then promptly deported. Ms. Butina has been incarcerated for nine months, and her lawyers recommended no further time.
“Nothing about Maria has been secret,” said one of Ms. Butina’s lawyers, Alfred Carry, also citing her cooperation with investigators and noting that she had “languished” in solitary confinement.“Nothing about Maria has been secret,” said one of Ms. Butina’s lawyers, Alfred Carry, also citing her cooperation with investigators and noting that she had “languished” in solitary confinement.
In a tearful voice, Ms. Butina asked the judge for mercy, saying she never intended to harm the American political process. “The United States has always been kind to me,” she said. “I just didn’t register because I didn’t know to.”In a tearful voice, Ms. Butina asked the judge for mercy, saying she never intended to harm the American political process. “The United States has always been kind to me,” she said. “I just didn’t register because I didn’t know to.”
But Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia disagreed. “This was no simple misunderstanding by an overeager foreign student.”But Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia disagreed. “This was no simple misunderstanding by an overeager foreign student.”
“She was not simply a grad student,” Erik Michael Kenerson, an assistant United States attorney, said on Friday. “Even though she did not transmit classified secrets,” he said, “the information that the defendant took back to Russia through the back channel she sought to establish was of extreme importance” and “had serious potential to harm the U.S. political process.” “She was not simply a grad student,” Erik Michael Kenerson, an assistant United States attorney, said on Friday. Even though she did not transmit classified secrets, he said, “the information that the defendant took back to Russia through the back channel she sought to establish was of extreme importance” and “had serious potential to harm the U.S. political process.”