Spy Speculation

AJC 7/18/18 page A1 article, ”Another Russian Charged” reports that Maria Butlina was charged with joining the National Rifle Association and religious organizations and going to the National Prayer Breakfast to try to steer the Republican Party toward more pro-Russian policies.

She is an International Relations graduate student at American University on a US Student Visa. The curriculum covers world history and economics and includes cultures, religions, races, politics, values and theory. This is typically a degree students would take to get a job in government or a non-profit.

Condoleezza Rice got a BS in Political Science, MS in Political Science and PhD in International Studies and got a job at Stanford as a Political Science Professor

Her Attorney claims she is not a Russian spy, but was networking. There appears to be no solid evidence to substantiate the charges, but she is being detained in jail.  The article refers to “anonymous and unnamed sources” as the evidence they have.  No mention of phone, IP address or bank record evidence linking her to the KGB.

She apparently is interested in guns and church, not classified experimental weapons systems you can find on the internet.

This looks like it was orchestrated to be announced on “summit day”. The Democrats and the media have pulled out the stops on Russian “meddling” as if to cover their tracks for their failure to prove that the Trump campaign “colluded” with the Russians to win the Presidential campaign in 2016. I expect hundreds of Russians who are living in the US will be “indicted” for being here.

My guess is that this case will disappear without physical evidence. I would expect anyone who is getting degrees in “international relations” will be geared to networking with people from other nations. She is more likely networking for a job when she graduates and is targeting groups she prefers.

AJC 7/19/18 page A12 article “Suspected secret agent used sex as part of job” reports more allegations in the indictment and claims she was in the process of leaving the US. It also claims that she remained on the payroll of a wealthy Russian she called the “funder”. It appears the FBI has phone records and bank records.  The article includes reports of her contact with Russians and Republicans and a “close” relationship with a fellow NRA member.

It appears no “espionage” exists in this case, but it does suggest that the FBI is conducting surveillance on Russians who talk to Republicans.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader