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Maria Butina: How alleged Russia spy schmoozed US elite Maria Butina: Alleged Russia agent 'offered sex for job'
(about 1 hour 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. An alleged Kremlin agent offered sex for a job with a special interest organisation she targeted, say US officials.
Maria Butina allegedly courted Republican-backed groups, such as the National Rifle Association, under the direction of a senior Russian official. Maria Butina's ties with Russian intelligence make her a "grave" flight risk, US officials say, and she should not be bailed before trial.
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. Ms Butina, who was arrested on Sunday, is scheduled to appear on Wednesday afternoon at a US court in Washington DC.
The flame-haired Russian is facing charges of failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiring against the US government. She is not charged with espionage.
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 agent of the Russian Federation". What are the latest allegations?
"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. Court filings on Wednesday say Ms Butina was living with an unnamed 56-year-old American - identified in documents as US Person 1 - with whom she had a "personal relationship".
"But this relationship does not represent a strong tie to the United States because Butina appears to treat it as simply a necessary aspect of her activities," said the court papers.
In some of her photos on social media, Ms Butina is seen with Paul Erickson, a South Dakota-based conservative political activist who is listed in public records as being 56 years old.
She "expressed disdain for continuing to cohabitate with" the American man, in documents seized by the FBI.
Prosecutors said she did not appear to take the attachment seriously because "on at least one occasion, Butina offered an individual other than US Person 1 sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organisation".
The documents do not name the organisation in question. But her social media accounts show she frequented National Rifle Association (NRA) events.
Ms Butina's lawyer has denied all the allegations.
'Ready for further orders''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.
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". "Right now everything has to be quiet and careful," Ms Butina allegedly wrote to her contact through a private Twitter message, a month before the 2016 presidential election.
"Only incognito!" Ms Butina allegedly replied through a private Twitter message one month before the 2016 presidential election. On the night of the vote, court filings say she messaged the Russian official: "I'm going to sleep. It's 3 a.m. here. I am ready for further orders."
"Right now everything has to be quiet and careful." She tried to establish "back channel" lines of communication to "penetrate the US national decision-making apparatus", the Justice Department said.
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." During her time in the US, she fostered relationships with conservative pro-gun groups.
Siberian gun campaigner At one point during the presidential election, she and the Russian official allegedly tried unsuccessfully to broker a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Putin.
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. 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.
Ms Butina's Facebook page includes pictures of her attending events where she met other well-known American politicians, including Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
What's her background?
She entered the US in August 2016 on an F-1 student visa. According to her LinkedIn page, she recently completed a masters degree in international relations from American University in Washington DC.
Those who encountered Ms Butina said she was a gregarious networker 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. 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 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. Who was her alleged handler?
During her time in the US, she began to foster her own relationships with conservative pro-gun groups. According to US media, the Russian official appears to be Alexander Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia's Central Bank and a well-connected ex-Russian senator from President Vladimir Putin's political party.
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. He was targeted by US Department of Treasury sanctions in April.
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. On her visa application, Ms Butina said she had previously been employed as special assistant to Mr Torshin.
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 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
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.
Mr Erickson is presumed to be the unnamed political operative that the FBI claims helped her to make contacts with influential Republicans.