This is also the direct consequence of the GOP being in bed with the NRA. National Rifle Association[edit]
As part of her work as a foreign agent, Butina worked to infiltrate the National Rifle Association on behalf of Russia.[5][34][35]
Torshin and Butina established a cooperative relationship between the NRA and Right to Bear Arms. Torshin has attended NRA annual meetings in the United States since at least 2011. Following the 2011 meeting, then NRA PresidentDavid Keeneexpressed his support for Torshin's "endeavors" and extended an invitation to the 2012 meeting.[36]Torshin also attended NRA annual meetings in 2012 and 2013.[37]
Butina in 2014
Butina and Torshin attended the 2014 NRA annual meeting as special guests of former NRA president Keene.[27][38]Butina attended the Women's Leadership Luncheon at the 2014 meeting as a guest of former NRA presidentSandy Froman.[28][38]Butina presented to then NRA presidentJim Portera plaque from Right to Bear Arms. Afterwards, she tweeted "Mission accomplished". Butina and Torshin also attended the 2015 NRA annual convention.[39]
In 2015, a number of NRA officials attended Right to Bear Arms's annual gun conference in Russia. Among them were Keene, gun manufacturer and NRA first vice presidentPete Brownell,[40]conservative American political operativePaul Erickson, andMilwaukee CountysheriffDavid Clarke. One of their hosts was Russian Deputy Prime MinisterDmitry Rogozin, who in 2014 wassanctioned by the White HousefollowingRussia's annexation of Crimea. Clarke's trip cost $40,000, with all expenses paid by the NRA, Pete Brownell (an NRA board member and CEO of a gun-parts supply company) and Right to Bear Arms.[28][41][42]According to a disclosure Clarke filed, Right to Bear Arms paid $6,000 to cover his meals, lodging, transportation and other expenses.[22]During the meeting, Clarke met the Russian foreign minister and attended a conference at which Torshin spoke.[28][42]In November 2016, Torshintweetedthat he and Butina were lifetime NRA members.[37][43]
Republican Party[edit]
Butina has attempted to develop ties to conservative American politics. In a supporting affidavit to the government's support for pre-trial detention following her indictment inUnited States of America v. Maria Butina, the FBI stated that she had successfully sought ties to theRepublican Party, where it is referred to as "POLITICAL PARTY 1".[3]According toThe Daily Beast, she has presented herself as a "Russian central bank staffer, a leading gun rights advocate, a 'representative of the Russian Federation,' a Washington, D.C. graduate student, a journalist, and a connection between Team Trump and Russia" in order to gain access to "high-level contacts" in Washington.[27]At the 2014 NRA annual meeting, Butina took pictures with Louisiana GovernorBobby Jindaland former U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidateRick Santorum.
Donald Trump campaign[edit]
In a June 2015 article published inThe National Interest, a conservative American international affairs magazine, just before Trump announcedhis candidacy for president, she urged better relations between the United States and Russia,[37]saying, "It may take the election of a Republican to the White House in 2016 to improve relations between the Russian Federation and the United States." The next month, Butina attendedFreedomFest, where Trump gave a speech, and asked him from the audience about ending U.S. sanctions against Russia, to which he replied, "I don't think you'd need the sanctions."[47]Butina hosted a birthday party attended by Erickson and Trump campaign aides shortly after the 2016 election.[37]
Relationships with Trump associates[edit]
Butina was in a relationship withOverstock.comCEO and Trump conspiracy theoristPatrick M. Byrne. Byrne claimed theFBIencouraged him to pursue Butina, a claim retired FBI officials denied.[50]In 2019, Byrne divested himself of all shares of Overstock after his relationship with Butina was revealed.[51]
For five years, prosecutors claimed, Butina lived with and maintained an intimate relationship with activist and fraudsterPaul Erickson. During Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, Erickson attempted to develop a back-channel between the NRA and the Russian government. Erickson was jailed and convicted of fraud unrelated to his relationship with Butina, then pardoned by Trump in his last week in office.[52]
Russian reaction[edit]
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had no prior knowledge of Butina.[68]Russian foreign ministerSergey Lavrovmade a statement saying that Butina's arrest was designed to undermine the "positive results" of theHelsinki summitbetween U.S. President Trump and Russian President Putin.[69]She was arrested a day before Trump met his Russian counterpart.[33]Butina's father has called the accusations against her "a witch-hunt".[70]
Leonid Slutsky, head of the lower house of theRussian parliament's foreign affairs committee, called Butina's case a "modern political inquisition."[71]Russia's Foreign Ministryaccused the United States of forcingfalse confessionfrom Butina.[72]According to the foreign ministry spokesperson,Maria Zakharova, "having created unbearable conditions for her and threatening her with a long jail sentence, she was literally forced to sign up to absolutely ridiculous charges."[73]
Life after prison[edit]
In 2021, she visitedAlexei Navalny, who was on hunger strike, in prison, stating that the conditions in the prison are better than in hotels in the Altai Territory, and Navalny himself is eating candy, not starving.[158]
In the September2021 Russian legislative electionButina ran for the8th State Dumaon theparty listofUnited Russia. Based on the allocation of seats to parties, she initially did not receive a deputy mandate. However,Igor Vasilyev, then governor ofKirov Oblast, declined his seat in the Duma, which then passed to Butina.[159]As a deputy, she sits on the Committee on International Affairs as well as the Commission on Investigation of Foreign Interference in Domestic Affairs of Russia.[160]
Response to invasion of Ukraine[edit]
She expressed support for theRussian invasion of Ukraine, sharing a video on social media displaying theZ symbolon her jacket.[161]She had previously made an appearance the day after the beginning of the invasion on state-controlled TV talk showTime Will Tellcondemning the Ukrainian government for arming civilians to repel Russian assaults on cities.[162]In aHARDtalkinterview in March, she refused to give credibility to any non-Russian source.[163]
Sanctions[edit]
Butina is one of the members of theState Dumathe United States Treasury sanctioned on 24 March 2022 in response to theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[164]
Sanctioned byCanadaunder the Special Economic Measures Act (S.C. 1992, c. 17) in relation to theRussian invasion of Ukrainefor Grave Breach of International Peace and Security.[165]and by theUKgovernment in 2022 in relation toRusso-Ukrainian War.[166]
