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Mariia Butina, Who Sought “Back Channel” Meeting for Trump and Putin, is Charged as Russian Agent
posted on July 17, 2018The New York Times’ Matt Apuzzo, Katie Benner, and Sharon LaFraniere report that a woman was charged Monday and alleged to be a Russian operative seeking to influence American politics. They write, “At the behest of a senior Russian government official, the woman, Mariia Butina, made connections through the National Rifle Association, religious organizations and the National Prayer Breakfast to try to steer the Republican Party toward more pro-Russia policies, court records show.” They continue, “Ms. Butina is the 26th Russian – and the first one arrested – to face charges related to interference in the presidential election.”