Who Met With Maria Butina?
Maria Butina, the Russian who reportedly infiltrated the National Rifle Association and became a popular figure in conservative circles in 2016, certainly earned her keep. The indictment issued last week states she worked closely with a Russian official, widely believed to be Russian Central Bank Deputy Gov. Alexander Torshin, to access and influence conservative organizations and politicians. In its press release announcing the indictment, the Justice Department stated:
The court filings detail the Russian official’s and Butina’s efforts for Butina to act as an agent of Russia inside the United States by developing relationships with U.S. persons and infiltrating organizations having influence in American politics, for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Russian Federation. The filings also describe certain actions taken by Butina to further this effort during multiple visits from Russia and, later, when she entered and resided in the United States on a student visa. The filings allege that she undertook her activities without officially disclosing the fact that she was acting as an agent of Russian government, as required by law.
Voters surely are entitled to know whom she tried to influence and who, if anyone, got allegedly Torshin-laundered money. Democrats, in particular ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (Ore.), ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), sent a letter Monday to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin demanding a response to an inquiry from Wyden sent in February.