[quote="Maria Butina, the Russian gun enthusiast accused of attempting to secretly penetrate American right-wing political circles, pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent in a Washington, D.C., courtroom Thursday. She became the first Russian citizen to be convicted in the sprawling investigations into Russia’s influence on the 2016 election.

Butina, 30, told the court she’d acted “under direction of” a Russian official who’s been widely identified as a man named Alexander Torshin. Torshin reportedly retired last month from his job as deputy director of Russia’s central bank.

"Butina sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over U.S. politics," a prosecutor said in court, CNN reported.

Since her arrest in July, prosecutors have said Butina worked to build up relationships with American politicians through her contacts with the National Rifle Association. In 2015, she publicly quizzed then-candidate Donald Trump on his views on Russian sanctions."]

[/quote]

Oh no, say Trumpers, there was no Russian influence. I wonder then, why did this young lady plead guilty to being a Russian intelligence agent attempting to interfere with Drumpf's election chances?

[news.vice.com]