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| Maria Butina: How alleged Russia spy schmoozed US elite | Maria Butina: How alleged Russia spy schmoozed US elite |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Russian woman accused of trying to influence US politics as a spy for Russia is due to appear before a federal judge in Washington DC. | |
| Maria Butina allegedly courted Republican-backed groups, such as the National Rifle Association, under the direction of a senior Russian official. | Maria Butina allegedly courted Republican-backed groups, such as the National Rifle Association, under the direction of a senior Russian official. |
| A lawyer for the 29-year-old said she has been co-operating with the US government for several months. | A lawyer for the 29-year-old said she has been co-operating with the US government for several months. |
| The case is not part of the US inquiry into alleged Russian election meddling. | The case is not part of the US inquiry into alleged Russian election meddling. |
| She is scheduled to appear on Wednesday before a US magistrate judge one day after she was formally indicted on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiring against the US government. | |
| On Wednesday, Moscow's foreign ministry said Ms Butina's arrest was designed to undermine the "positive results" of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday. | On Wednesday, Moscow's foreign ministry said Ms Butina's arrest was designed to undermine the "positive results" of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday. |
| Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, has denied FBI claims the recent graduate of American University in Washington DC is an "an agent of the Russian Federation". | Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, has denied FBI claims the recent graduate of American University in Washington DC is an "an agent of the Russian Federation". |
| "There is simply no indication of Butina seeking to influence or undermine any specific policy or law (of) the United States - only at most to promote a better relationship between the two nations," Mr Driscoll said in a statement after her arrest on Sunday. | "There is simply no indication of Butina seeking to influence or undermine any specific policy or law (of) the United States - only at most to promote a better relationship between the two nations," Mr Driscoll said in a statement after her arrest on Sunday. |
| 'Ready for further orders' | |
| The Department of Justice alleges that Ms Butina worked "under the direction and control" of a senior Russian official who is not named in charging documents. | The Department of Justice alleges that Ms Butina worked "under the direction and control" of a senior Russian official who is not named in charging documents. |
| But according to US media, the Russian official appears to be Alexander Torshin, a well-connected ex-Russian senator from President Vladimir Putin's political party. | |
| Court papers say the Russian official acted as her spy handler, and coached her through online messages to win "the battle for the future" and "not burn out (fall) prematurely". | Court papers say the Russian official acted as her spy handler, and coached her through online messages to win "the battle for the future" and "not burn out (fall) prematurely". |
| "Only incognito!" Ms Butina allegedly replied through a private Twitter message one month before the 2016 presidential election. | "Only incognito!" Ms Butina allegedly replied through a private Twitter message one month before the 2016 presidential election. |
| "Right now everything has to be quiet and careful." | "Right now everything has to be quiet and careful." |
| On the night of the presidential election in 2016, court filings say she messaged her Russian contact: "I'm going to sleep. It's 3 a.m. here. I am ready for further orders." | |
| Siberian gun campaigner | Siberian gun campaigner |
| People who met Ms Butina said she was a gregarious, flame-haired Russian whose colourful life story appealed to conservatives she met at events around the US. | |
| In 2015 she told a US radio show that she grew up in the woods of Siberia, and was taught to hunt by her father. | In 2015 she told a US radio show that she grew up in the woods of Siberia, and was taught to hunt by her father. |
| After a brief career as the owner of a chain of furniture stores, she said she moved to Moscow where she founded a group called the Right to Bear Arms, which supposedly advocated for private gun ownership in Russia. | |
| On her F-1 student visa application when she entered the US in August 2016, Ms Butina said she had previously been employed as special assistant to Mr Torshin. | On her F-1 student visa application when she entered the US in August 2016, Ms Butina said she had previously been employed as special assistant to Mr Torshin. |
| During her time in the US, she began to foster her own relationships with conservative pro-gun groups. | During her time in the US, she began to foster her own relationships with conservative pro-gun groups. |
| Mr Torshin and Ms Butina are both lifetime members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) - a powerful US lobbying organisation that supports gun rights and pro-gun politicians. | |
| At a prayer breakfast in Russia that Mr Torshin hosts every year, she came to meet several influential Christian conservative leaders who were invited from the United States. | |
| That is how Ms Butina came to meet a Republican political operative who is alleged to have helped introduce her to politically influential people in the US. | That is how Ms Butina came to meet a Republican political operative who is alleged to have helped introduce her to politically influential people in the US. |
| Sources tell US media that the fact that Mr Torshin was not charged is a sign investigators are working to secure her co-operation against Mr Torshin and possibly other Russian officials. | Sources tell US media that the fact that Mr Torshin was not charged is a sign investigators are working to secure her co-operation against Mr Torshin and possibly other Russian officials. |
| At one point during the presidential election, she and the official allegedly tried unsuccessfully to broker a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin. | At one point during the presidential election, she and the official allegedly tried unsuccessfully to broker a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin. |
| At a town hall meeting in July 2015, she asked then-candidate Donald Trump about his views on Russia. | |
| The following year she met his son, Donald Trump Jr, at an NRA convention. | |
| Relationship with Republican operative | Relationship with Republican operative |
| Ms Butina testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee in April, her lawyer said - the same month that the US Department of Treasury imposed financial sanctions on Mr Torshin. | Ms Butina testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee in April, her lawyer said - the same month that the US Department of Treasury imposed financial sanctions on Mr Torshin. |
| According to US media, Ms Butina told the Senate committee she had begun a romantic relationship with Paul Erickson, a well-known South Dakota-based Republican operative. | According to US media, Ms Butina told the Senate committee she had begun a romantic relationship with Paul Erickson, a well-known South Dakota-based Republican operative. |
| Mr Erickson is presumed to be the unnamed political operative that the FBI claims helped her to make contacts with influential Republicans. | Mr Erickson is presumed to be the unnamed political operative that the FBI claims helped her to make contacts with influential Republicans. |