A former Russian agent accused of trying to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and influence U. S. policy toward Russia is expected to plead guilty this week following a deal between her lawyers and U. S. prosecutors, according to court filings on Monday.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — A former Russian agent accused of trying to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and influence U. S. policy toward Russia is expected to plead guilty this week following a deal between her lawyers and U. S. prosecutors, according to court filings on Monday.
Exactly how the deal will be structured for defendant Maria Butina and whether or not Butina may agree to cooperate with prosecutors was not immediately clear. U. S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington scheduled a hearing for Dec. 12.
Former American University graduate student Butina had previously pleaded not guilty to U. S. charges in July that she was acting as an agent of the Russian government and conspiring to take actions on Russia’s behalf.
