Woman Charged With Acting as Russian Agent Built Ties With NRA to Gain Influence Over GOP

A 29-year-old Russian woman was arrested in Washington, D.C. Monday and charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation, which included trying to establish backchannel communications with conservative political organizations, including the National Rifle Association. Maria Butina, who was recently awarded a graduate degree from American University in the capital, tried but failed to broker a meeting between Trump and Putin during the campaign. She is being held without bond ...