Suspected Russian spy cooperating ahead of US hearing: CNN
PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki
13.12.2018 15:40
A suspected Russian spy captured in the United States has provided investigators with information on an American she conspired with to infiltrate the country’s political circles, CNN reported on Thursday.
Photo: Msporch/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons
The 30-year-old Russian national, Maria Butina, has also offered information on a Russian official who directed her activities, the broadcaster reported, citing “a person familiar with the matter.”
Butina was on Thursday expected to appear in court to plead guilty to conspiracy as part of a deal with prosecutors, according to CNN.
The Russian initially pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent, CNN said, adding that prosecutors accused Butina of infiltrating political groups including the National Rifle Association to bolster Russian interests.
The woman has been incarcerated since she was arrested in July, being held in solitary confinement in a northern Virginia jail, CNN reported.
She has offered information about her American boyfriend, a GOP political operative who helped her make inroads with conservative political groups, according to the broadcaster.
But Butina is “not seen as a hardened spymaster in the mold of Cold War intelligence assets” even though her being held in custody has attracted international attention, CNN said on its website.
(gs/pk)
Source: cnn.com