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December 11, 2018

Russian Gun Activist Pleads Guilty to Conspiring as a Foreign Agent
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Russian gun rights activist Maria Butina has pleaded guilty to one
charge of conspiring to act as a foreign agent without registering with
the Justice Department. Butina has been jailed since July after being
accused of trying to infiltrate the NRA and other right-wing groups.
According to the plea deal, Butina "sought to establish unofficial lines
of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S.
politics. Butina sought to use those unofficial lines of communication
for the benefit of the Russia Federation." Butina is now cooperating
with prosecutors. In September, prosecutors admitted they wrongfully
accused Butina of trading sex for influence with high-level Republicans,
by misinterpreting joking text messages.


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