Maria Butina Pleads Guilty to Being Russian Agent: Purpose Was to Influence 2016 Election

Maria Butina infiltrated NRA and other groups 

to influence policy and taint 2016 election

Developing story from here re: Donald J. Trump Jr. – in deeper kimchi with this story headline:

The FBI has obtained wiretaps of a Putin ally tied to the NRA who met with Trump Jr. during the campaign

Spanish police have turned over to the FBI wiretaps of conversations involving Alexander Torshin, a prominent Russian banker suspected of money laundering who met with Donald J. Trump Jr., during the 2016 campaign.

Torshin is closely associated with the NRA; he and his longtime assistant attempted to use the organization's annual convention in 2016 to set up a backdoor meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

However, neither Trump nor his campaign associates attended the convention, but Torshin and Trump Jr. did attend a separate NRA dinner that same night.

When José Grinda, a Spanish prosecutor who spearheads investigations into organized crime, was asked if he was concerned about Torshin's interactions with Trump Jr. or other American political figures, Grinda replied: “Mr. Trump's son should be concerned.”

Related:

No collusion, um? Putin's reaction to the following story: “Maria Butina, who?” But, all hard-core Trump loyalists who are also NRA members should be proud to see their brand working for Moscow.

The story:

Maria Butina, a Russian gun rights proponent who cultivated close ties to the NRA and GOP conservative political figures, pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the Russian government.

That plea makes her, a former graduate student at American University (AMU), the first Russian national convicted of trying to covertly influence U.S. policy during the 2016 election, even though her case was not handled by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into the Kremlin’s election meddling efforts that he heads.

The full article is here from Politico with this headline:

Accused Russian Secret Agent Pleads Guilty

More related to Maria Butina here from Vox.com

My 2 cents: Will a simple Rick Perry “oops” suffice at this time? Doubtful…

Will another Trump weak “Fake News” tweet work and help keep his base content.  That is very likely.

Regardless, this stuff is getting very deep around Trump Empire, Inc.

And, a fresh supply if waders won’t work, either.

Do a google search of “Butina” and see her fans: Like Former Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA); or Former Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI); Former Sen.  Rick Santorum (R-PA); and key NRA officials including CEO Wayne LaPierre at various events – very worthwhile to do the research. 

Thanks for stopping by.