Alleged Russian Agent Maria Butina Expected to Plead Guilty

wsj.com

Butina previously pleaded not guilty to charges of acting as an agent of the Russian government

Image from article, with caption: Maria Butina previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of acting as an agent of the Russian government

Alleged Russian agent Maria Butina is now expected to plead guilty, her lawyers and prosecutors signaled in a court filing Monday, after the gun-rights activist spent months in U.S. custody on charges of improperly pursuing Moscow’s interest in Washington.

Both sides asked a Washington federal judge to schedule a “change of plea hearing” in the case, which suggests that Ms. Butina, a Russian national, is expected to change her plea from the “not guilty” she entered in July.

The two sides had previously alerted the judge they were in discussions to resolve the case. Whether Ms. Butina will plead guilty to the original charges or to a different offense remains unclear. 

The filing asked for the hearing later this week, but didn’t provide details of the negotiations other than to say that “the parties have resolved this matter” and that Ms. Butina remains in custody.  

Ms. Butina has been in custody since her arrest in July and would likely be sent back to Russia upon her release.

The unusual case, brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, accused the former American University graduate student of working with a Russian banking official to develop back-channel relationships with American politicians through the National Rifle Association, in an effort to advance Russia’s aims.

Ms. Butina has denied acting improperly, saying she was only pursuing policy interests similar to other 20-somethings in Washington.

The developments are the latest twist in a case that has linked Russian officials, the young Russian gun-rights activist and student, the American gun lobby, a Rockefeller heir and a longtime conservative political activist from South Dakota. 

Prosecutors were forced to recant salacious allegations they made accusing Ms. Butina of offering sex in exchange for a position. Prosecutors later acknowledged they were mistaken in their reading of text messages.

The Butina case is unfolding at a time of public scrutiny of Russia’s various efforts to influence American politics and policy. However, the matter is separate from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Russian officials raised Ms. Butina’s case multiple times with American counterparts. They have repeatedly said they view Ms. Butina as a political prisoner and hostage who is being unfairly prosecuted.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said Ms. Butina was arrested “under fabricated charges.” The ministry’s official Twitter account still features a photo of Ms. Butina with the hashtag #FreeMariaButina.

The official Russian news agency TASS reported on Nov. 30 that Moscow was upset by what officials said was a “new tightening of prison conditions” for Butina. Ms. Zakharova said Ms. Butina’s incarceration was “definitely negatively affecting her health” and that she wasn’t receiving “quality medical treatment.”

The Russian diplomat said that Russian officials visited Butina on Nov. 27 and sent a note to the U.S. State Department about Ms. Butina’s situation.

U.S. officials have denied any improper treatment.

—Ann M. Simmons in Moscow contributed to this article.