Accused Russian Spy Cooperating with US Federal Prosecutors

Washington: An accused Russian spy who nuzzled up to US’ National Rifle Association before the 2016 election, has begun cooperating with American federal prosecutors after agreeing to a plea deals, according to an informed source.

News that Maria Butina, 30, had seemed to reach a deal with federal prosecutors first broke on Monday when her attorneys and prosecutors filed a two-page request for a “change of plea” hearing before a federal judge, the source told CNN.

“The parties have resolved this matter,” the filing in a federal court here said on Monday. Butina’s case was brought by federal prosecutors and not by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team. According to the agreement, Butina “agreed and conspired, with a Russian government official and at least one other person, for Butina to act in the US under the direction of Russian Official without prior notification to the Attorney General”. A plea hearing has been set for Wednesday where a judge will need to sign off on the deal. (IANS)

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