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brooklynite

(94,571 posts)
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 12:40 PM Dec 2018

Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina admits to engaging in conspiracy against US By Katelyn Polantz and

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina admitted in federal court Thursday morning to engaging in a conspiracy against the United States.

Butina, 30, was accused of working to infiltrate Republican political circles through groups such as the National Rifle Association to bolster Russian interests.

Butina said she acted "under direction of" a Russian official whom CNN has identified as Alexander Torshin. "Butina sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over US politics," the prosecutor said in court.

Read more: https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2018/12/13/politics/maria-butina-guilty-plea/index.html?__twitter_impression=true

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina admits to engaging in conspiracy against US By Katelyn Polantz and (Original Post) brooklynite Dec 2018 OP
The hits just keep on coming for dotard. nt SunSeeker Dec 2018 #1
Suckered the NRA. Sneederbunk Dec 2018 #2
They weren't "suckered", they knew what they were doing Blue_Tires Dec 2018 #16
LOCK HER ASS UP......................... turbinetree Dec 2018 #3
Why? As long as she's spilling the beans and the truth is pointing at Trump, procon Dec 2018 #6
She's already behind bars Fritz Walter Dec 2018 #9
' . . . likely be deported after serving any time' . . . Hmmmm? empedocles Dec 2018 #4
Butina was and always will be ... LenaBaby61 Dec 2018 #5
Mrs. Greenscum UpInArms Dec 2018 #8
K&R Scurrilous Dec 2018 #7
Of Course She Was Part of a Conspiracy dlk Dec 2018 #10
Is she still "allegedly" a spy if she admitted she's a spy in court? Nitram Dec 2018 #11
We know this, we need details like, PeeJ52 Dec 2018 #12
Also, which other members of the GOP BigmanPigman Dec 2018 #13
Let's call an intelligence officer an intelligence officer matt819 Dec 2018 #14
WoW! A Russian SPY..conspiracy against U.S...thr NRA...communications w/Americans w/POWER ... Honeycombe8 Dec 2018 #15
This is the part where everybody in the leftist punditsphere Blue_Tires Dec 2018 #17

procon

(15,805 posts)
6. Why? As long as she's spilling the beans and the truth is pointing at Trump,
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 01:08 PM
Dec 2018

let's wait until we can put him in jail.

Fritz Walter

(4,291 posts)
9. She's already behind bars
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:39 PM
Dec 2018

Knowing how the GRU disposes of legal and political problems, it may well be protective custody. Once she’s testified, they might move her to gen-pop, and we’ll see what that does to her life expectancy.

LenaBaby61

(6,974 posts)
5. Butina was and always will be ...
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 12:58 PM
Dec 2018

A ruskie/NRA SPY. A Honey pot.

The mostly corporate media (Mrs. Greenspan) spewed bile and DAMNATION of Hillary and her NEVER compromised emails.

But Butina can only muster being called an alleged SPY?

UpInArms

(51,284 posts)
8. Mrs. Greenscum
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 01:21 PM
Dec 2018

Has, by using her other moniker, Andrea Mitchell, been very successful at hiding her links to the chain of swamp buddies

dlk

(11,566 posts)
10. Of Course She Was Part of a Conspiracy
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 02:39 PM
Dec 2018

And it's time for her American co-conspirators and enablers to be held accountable-traitors all!

 

PeeJ52

(1,588 posts)
12. We know this, we need details like,
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:10 PM
Dec 2018

where did that $30 million dollars the NRA spent on Trump's campaign come from?

matt819

(10,749 posts)
14. Let's call an intelligence officer an intelligence officer
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 03:36 PM
Dec 2018

Butina was very obviously an intelligence officer. But if you find that a stretch, then let's go with witting - very witting - asset.

The truly astounding element of her assignment is that she did not conceal her nationality (Russian), her association with Russian intelligence (overt introductions to Russian intelligence and paid trips to Russia), or, ultimately, her goal (electing Trump).

This was a massive poke in the eye to the NRA and RW Americans generally - no subtlety required, no finesse. Hey, we're Russians, and we're going to fuck with you. Anybody with me? And they all fell into line, panting and slobbering from here to Moscow.

The charge that she's pled guilty to is essentially failing to register as a foreign lobbyist. If this gets her to cooperate and serve time in prison, great. But I think she should have been charged with espionage. Although her targets were the NRA and the Republican party, her key objective was helping to dismantle American democracy. A conviction allows tremendous flexibility in sentencing, including life sentences and death penalty. In contrast, failing to register as a foreign agent carries up to 2 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.


Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
15. WoW! A Russian SPY..conspiracy against U.S...thr NRA...communications w/Americans w/POWER ...
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 04:17 PM
Dec 2018

over U.S. politics.

Those words are powerful. Everything we THOUGHT had happened, DID happen.

I'm guessing this involves some Republicans in the Senate and House, too. Definitely the Trump team.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
17. This is the part where everybody in the leftist punditsphere
Thu Dec 13, 2018, 05:11 PM
Dec 2018

who spent all of 2017 (and even 2018) telling everyone that KremlinGate was a "nothingburger" and "an overhyped myth" and "sour grapes from Hillary" needs to line up and kiss my ass...

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