US officials accuse Russia linked to the NRA to act as the Kremlin's agent

Federal authorities on Monday charged a Russian citizen living in Washington DC to be an illegal agent of Russia The Justice Ministry said Mariia Butina, 29, had been arrested on Sunday about this that an FBI agent had described as a "Operation of Russian Influence." She made her initial appearance Monday afternoon before US magistrate Deborah Robinson in Washington and was ordered to be detained pending a hearing scheduled for Wednesday

. WE. Officials allege that Butina, while attending a university in Washington, worked from 2015 until at least February 2017 as a Kremlin agent under the leadership of a senior Russian government official and the Russian central bank, according to an affidavit of the FBI. the complaint. Although the complaint does not name him, he seems to refer to Alexander Torshin, an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a long-time supporter of the National Rifle Association who would also have links with the Russian security services and personalities of the organized crime

. were investigating whether Butina and Torshin, two gun enthusiasts who attended NRA events together, were part of a plot to channel Russian money via the NRA to the Trump campaign, possibly be through NRA entities that were not obliged to disclose their sources of funding.

Butina's lawyer denied this on Monday, and Torshin also denied any wrongdoing. NRA has not responded to requests for comment.

The arrest of Butina and the details revealed in the complaint suggest that the investigation into the links between the officials of the NRA and the Russian agents is not over and could enter the 39, a broader investigation into Russian interference in 2016, according to some federal prosecutors. The court documents sometimes seem to refer to the NRA.

"The criminal charge Maria Butina strongly suggests that the Justice Ministry is far from having completed the Rubik's Russian Cube," said Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor. "In fact, one could argue that the investigation actually went from a false election job to a spy in a back-and-forth tactic with the NRA."

Court records unveiled on Monday the detailed efforts of Torshin and Butina. act as agent of Russia in the United States by developing relations with American people and infiltrated organizations having an influence on US policy, in order to promote the interests of the Russian Federation. "

According to statements, Butina favored the conspiracy by making several trips from Russia to the United States, then obtaining a student visa and living in the national capital.The Department of Justice has stated that one of Butina's missions was to establish "unofficial lines of communication with politicians and American political organizations" and to communicate with Torshin "and others" through meetings, emails and other means.Butina undertook these alleged activities as an agent of the Russian government without formally notifying the federal authorities, as required by law, said the Ministry of Justice, which imposed a maximum fine for conspiracy charges. Robert Driscoll, a Butina lawyer, said in a statement Monday that a dozen FBI agents had executed a search warrant in his Washington apartment in April. in the federal law enforcement, including the special advocate Robert Mueller's office, but they rebuffed it, Driscoll said, and she was arrested Sunday "without notice at the same time". ;lawyer."

She testified voluntarily several months ago before the Senate Intelligence Committee and handed over thousands of documents, he said.

"The substance of the charge in the complaint is exaggerated" Driscoll said. "Although referred to as a kind of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, in reality, it describes a conspiracy for a" dinner of friendship "at Bistro Bis with a group of people. Americans and Russians to discuss foreign relations between the two countries shocking development for Russian students in international relations living in Washington. "

"Nothing indicates that Butina seeks to influence or undermine any specific US policy or law – at most to promote a better relationship between the two nations," added Driscoll, saying that She is not an agent of Russia, but a Russian national who recently graduated from American University and who has a work permit in pursuit of a career in business.

Mueller reportedly investigated whether Russian officials attempted to fund and influence President Donald Trump's campaign in 2016 through associations with the NRA. Monday's announcement was not made by Mueller's team, but by Deputy Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and other officials.

In May 2016, Torshin tried through intermediaries to organize a meeting between Putin and Trump. was acting at the request of the Russian president, reported the New York Times. The related e-mail subject line, which was later delivered to Senate investigators, reads as follows: "Opening of Russian back door and invitation to dinner," reports the Times, citing a person who had seen it. He said Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior campaign adviser, rejected the request.

That same month, Torshin shared a table at an NRA dinner with Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., according to a Torshin account later gave Bloomberg. Torshin also met with Trump Jr. on the sidelines of the NRA's annual conference.

The Trump administration imposed stiff sanctions in April against Torshin, who denied wrongdoing, and six other Russian oligarchs and 17 Russian government officials in response to Russia's interference in the elections of 2016.

The Justice Department also identified two American people and a US Congressman as working with Butina. He did not identify these people nor hinted that they were complicit in unlawful acts.

One of them, identified only as "United States". Person 1, "would have frequently corresponded with Butina and offered her advice, strategy advice and lists of influential Americans who could help her in the US This person also seems to have made the 39; subject to a federal inquiry; the FBI affidavit reveals that the US authorities have had access to his email and that the person 1 told an acquaintance: "I was involved in The establishment of a VERY private line of communication between the Kremlin and the main leaders of the political party.According to other information contained in the court documents, these references seem to belong to the Republican Party and the NRA.

Butina, under the direction of Torshin, also worked on other papers, including the invitation of many influential Russians to the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States, the organization of dinners between Russians and influential Americans in Washington and New York, and participation in political events.

Butina asked Trump a question with Moscow at a libertarian convention in Las Vegas just a month after the Republican announced his campaign for the president.

In Russia, "she said at an exchange that was captured by a group called LetsTalkNevada." If you were elected president, what will your foreign policies be, especially in relations with my country, and do you want to continue the policy of sanctions that harm the two economies or you have other ideas? "

I know Putin … I think I'll hear very well with Putin" said Trump. "I do not think you would need sanctions."

On election night, Butina and Torshin followed in real time and corresponded via Twitter messages, according to the FBI official's affidavit. After Trump's surprise victory, Butina wrote to Torshin saying, "I'm going to bed. It is 3 am here. I am ready for other orders. "