Maria Butina Pleads Guilty In Foreign Agent Case, Admits Clandestine Influence Scheme

Russian gun rights activist Maria Butina pleaded guilty to serving as an unregistered foreign agent. She sought to build back-channel links to the Russian government with the Trump campaign.

AP

Updated at 3:22 p.m. ET

A Russian woman who schemed to build back-channel ties between the Russian government and the Trump campaign pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to conspiring to act as a clandestine foreign agent.

Maria Butina also sought to connect Moscow unofficially with other parts of the conservative establishment, including the National Rifle Association and the National Prayer Breakfast.