Russian traded sex for influence, prosecutors say
Russian national and gun-rights advocate Maria Butina traded sex for a position in a specialinterest organization, U.S. prosecutors say.
The prosecutors have asked a judge to keep her in jail before trial because of her ties to Russian intelligence services.
Butina, 29, faces federal charges that she illegally conspired to establish a back channel between Russians and American politicians during the last election cycle and operated as an unregistered agent of the Russian Federation in the U.S.
She was scheduled to appear in Washington federal court later Wednesday.
“Because Butina has been exposed as an illegal agent of Russia, there is the grave risk that she will appeal to those within that government with whom she conspired to aid her escape from the United States,” prosecutors said in a court filing Wednesday.
“Butina presents an extreme flight risk.”
The allegations seem as if they’re ripped from popular culture, echoing facets of this year’s thriller “Red Sparrow” with Jennifer Lawrence, as well as the popular FX series “The Americans.”
The show was inspired by a 2010 case in New York, when 10 Russian sleeper agents were arrested in the U.S. and expelled in a prisoner exchange after pleading guilty.
Butina used a U.S. citizen, who isn’t named by prosecutors but matches the description of political operative Paul Erickson, to gain access to an extensive network of Americans in position to influence political activities in the country, prosecutors said.
She lived with the 56-year-old man, but appeared to “treat it as simply a necessary aspect of her activities,” the U.S. said.
“On at least one occasion, Butina offered an individual other than U.S. Person 1 sex in exchange for a position within a special-interest organization,” prosecutors said.
Butina’s lawyer told a judge at a July 16 hearing that she didn’t make a run for it even after her home was searched by FBI agents in April and she testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee in a closed session, according to a transcript.
“She’s not a flight risk,” Robert Neil Driscoll said at the hearing. “She’s certainly not a danger to the community.”
But the U.S. said it was apparent Butina was getting ready to leave Washington.
She cancelled her lease, sent $3,500 to an account in Russia and inquired about renting a moving truck, prosecutors said.
The FBI uncovered evidence that Butina appeared to be “in contact with officials believed to be Russian intelligence operatives” during her time in the U.S., according to the U.S.
Butina is accused of attempting to influence American politics by infiltrating groups such as the National Rifle Association.
Butina is well-connected to wealthy businessmen in the Russian oligarchy, prosecutors said. They alleged her Twitter messages, chat logs, and emails refer to a Russian businessman with deep ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and who was listed in Forbes as having a net worth of $1.2 billion.
“This person often travels to the United States and has also been referred to as her ‘funder’ throughout her correspondence,” prosecutors said.
The businessmen could be in a position to offer her safe harbour, the prosecutors argued.
Butina was likely in contact with the Russian Federal Security Service, known as FSB, throughout her time in the U.S., prosecutors said.