Maria Butina, the NRA-linked Russian national who pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent, is appealing her 18-month sentence, according to a court notice filed by her lawyers Wednesday.
A federal judge handed down the sentence — which will take into account time served for her detention since her July 2018 arrest — last month. The sentence was harsher than many were expecting, given that the probation office recommended only 12 months in its sentencing report.
Prosecutors, however, had asked for 18 months and said they would have asked for two years had she not provided “substantial” assistance in her post-plea cooperation. In the lead-up to her sentencing, the government filed court documents claiming that Butina’s “spot and assess” operation, meaning that the information she was passing along to an ex-Russian government official, could have been later used to identify potential targets for intelligence recruitment. Her lawyers disputed the claims. Nonetheless, that argument appeared to resonate with U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan as she explained the sentence.
According to Wednesday’s filing, Butina is currently being incarcerated at the Grady County Jail in Oklahoma.
Tiny, tiny violin for the honeypot? Trump would move on her like a …
Wonder what Putin’s decision will be on her appeal? The man’s got a lot on his plate…
So just who is funding her not-inexpensive law firm?
With the 15% reduction for good behavior she’ll be released and deported in less than 6 months. Still, she may have grounds for appeal, and why not? It’s not her money. One of the writers at emptywheel thought the sentence was excessive and the prosecution’s way of getting it was underhanded.
“Butina’s “spot and assess” operation, meaning that the information she
was passing along to an ex-Russian government official, could have been
later used to identify potential targets for intelligence recruitment.”
That’s Putin planning years ahead since they already have 45* in the white house.