Butina allegedly worked under the direction of Russia to infiltrate Republican and conservative groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Russian national Maria Butina is seen in a booking photo in Alexandria, Virginia. I agree with that there could be many other people who should be concerned at this point,' she warned. 'Anyone talking to her at that time would be captured on that as well. 'If the government has evidence that she was acting at the direction and control of Russia, that makes her an agent of a foreign power, which means she would have been a legitimate target for FISA surveillance,' Rangappa explained. She also pointed out that the young Russian was operating 'fairly overtly' to 'court, recruit, assess people who may be able to then influence policy towards Russia.' A former agent, Rangappa explained that Russia's election influence efforts have been carried out on 'a number of different fronts,' and said that Butina's actions were part of a much larger campaign. Republicans and others who were in contact with Maria Butina have reason to worry, a former FBI agent has warned after the 29-year-old Russian national pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiring against the United States under the direction of Moscow.Īsha Rangappa, who is also a lawyer and a senior lecturer at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, spoke on CNN to discuss the alleged spy's cooperation with investigators.

Maria butina