Possible plea deal for accused Russian agent Maria Butina

Syracuse.com ^ | 12/10/2018 | AP

[Signalman]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A woman accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government has likely taken a plea deal, prosecutors indicated Monday in a court filing that said her case has been "resolved."

The information was included in a filing in the case against Maria Butina. Her lawyers and federal prosecutors have asked for a hearing as soon as Tuesday morning.

[marktwain]

Marina is accused of lobbying on behalf of the Russian government without registering as a Russian agent.

This is based on her connection to a rich Russian, her lobbying to make connections with the NRA, and then getting close to American politicians.

Very thin soup, but the law is very broad and vague.

She does not have a rich sponsor to go to bat for her.

She has been sitting in prison for a couple months, far more than a reasonable term would be for a very questionable offense.

So the prosecution is likely offering her a deal to plead guilty to something, anything, to save face and prevent a lawsuit.

That is my take on it.

I recall Meeting/seeing the lady at an NRA convention, very briefly. Might have spoken 10 words.

[Nero Germanicus]

She was arrested by the Trump Administration’s FBI under Trump appointed Director Christopher Wray and her plea deal happened under Trump appointed Interim Attorney General Matt Whitaker. The CURRENT Department of Justice held her in solitary confinement for months.