Sara Murray and David Shortell
CNN via Sott.net
A federal judge sentenced Russia national Maria Butina to 18 months in prison on Friday, after she pleaded guilty to trying to infiltrate conservative political circles and promote Russian interests before and after the 2016 presidential election.
Comment: Like many people who plead guilty in the US, she did so because the system there makes you plead guilty in exchange for 'leniency', not because she's actually 'guilty'. In Butina's case, they tortured a confession out of her.
She is the first Russian citizen convicted of crimes relating to the 2016 election, though her efforts to infiltrate Republican circles appeared to be separate from the Kremlin's sweeping election-meddling campaign detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
Comment: That's CNN's way of saying she had no connection with the Kremlin whatsoever.
The 30-year-old gun rights enthusiast has been incarcerated since her arrest in July and will receive credit for the nine months previously served. She will be deported to Russia after serving her sentence.
Comment: Take note, American 'gun rights enthusiasts': they're 'gunning' for you next.
"This was no simple misunderstanding by an overeager foreign student," Judge Tanya Chutkan said.
Chutkan said that Butina, who studied at American University in Washington, engaged in work on behalf of a Russian official that was "sophisticated" and "dangerous."
"The conduct was sophisticated and penetrated deep into political organizations," Chutkan said, siding with the government's sentencing recommendation and noting that Butina's actions took place as Russia was actively trying to interfere in the US democratic process.
Read more
CNN via Sott.net
A federal judge sentenced Russia national Maria Butina to 18 months in prison on Friday, after she pleaded guilty to trying to infiltrate conservative political circles and promote Russian interests before and after the 2016 presidential election.
Comment: Like many people who plead guilty in the US, she did so because the system there makes you plead guilty in exchange for 'leniency', not because she's actually 'guilty'. In Butina's case, they tortured a confession out of her.
She is the first Russian citizen convicted of crimes relating to the 2016 election, though her efforts to infiltrate Republican circles appeared to be separate from the Kremlin's sweeping election-meddling campaign detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller's report.
Comment: That's CNN's way of saying she had no connection with the Kremlin whatsoever.
The 30-year-old gun rights enthusiast has been incarcerated since her arrest in July and will receive credit for the nine months previously served. She will be deported to Russia after serving her sentence.
Comment: Take note, American 'gun rights enthusiasts': they're 'gunning' for you next.
"This was no simple misunderstanding by an overeager foreign student," Judge Tanya Chutkan said.
Chutkan said that Butina, who studied at American University in Washington, engaged in work on behalf of a Russian official that was "sophisticated" and "dangerous."
"The conduct was sophisticated and penetrated deep into political organizations," Chutkan said, siding with the government's sentencing recommendation and noting that Butina's actions took place as Russia was actively trying to interfere in the US democratic process.
Read more
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