Maria Butina has changed her plea to guilty.  By this time we all know the story of the young Russian woman who claimed to be a “gun-rights activist” and worked her way into the NRA and the Republican Party.  She is now guilty of conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent on behalf of the Russian government.  From Axios:

“In a copy of the plea deal obtained earlier this week by ABC News, Butina admitted that she and her American boyfriend — Republican operative Paul Erickson — agreed and conspired with a Russian government official to seek to “establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics.” One of the ways Butina allegedly developed relationships with American politicians was through her involvement with the NRA.”

The Washington Post reports she is the “first Russian national convicted of seeking to influence U.S. policy around time of 2016 election.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said neither he nor his intelligence services know of Butina.

But Butina worked with Alexander Torshin, a Russian billionaire and Putin ally.