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Prosecutors reverse claim that accused Russian agent traded sex for political access
The Hill ^ | 09/08/18 | John Bowden

Posted on 09/08/2018 9:40:56 PM PDT by yesthatjallen

Prosecutors say they were "mistaken" about the meaning of text messages sent by Maria Butina, a Russian woman accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Russian government and a Republican operative, that purported to show Butina offering sex in exchange for political access.

The acknowledgement by U.S. prosecutors came in court filings late Friday, CNN reported. The government, in July, claimed in a court filing that Butina offered "sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization."

Prosecutors, however, conceded on Friday that they misunderstood text messages sent by Butina, which were a significant part of their case against her.

Butina’s lawyer, Robert Driscoll, said in a statement to The Washington Post, that the admission represented "an unfortunate example of the misuse of that power."

I’m glad the false allegation has been acknowledged, but it’s a hard bell to unring,” he added.

Driscoll, the Post noted, said in a filing last month that the allegation against Butina was a false interpretation of a "playful" text conversation between Butina and a longtime friend. The friend, according to the Post, does public relations work for a Russian company Butina founded.

Prosecutors argued in Friday's filings that there was still reason to question Butina's sexual history, writing that "[e]ven granting that the government's understanding of this particular text conversation was mistaken," other communications call into doubt her commitment to her boyfriend and therefore merit her designation as a flight risk.

Butina has pleaded not guilty after being indicted in July on charges of failing to register and conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of the Russian government

U.S. attorneys argued earlier this year that her connections resided primarily in Russia, and raised concerns that she could flee the country and abandon her 56-year-old alleged boyfriend, GOP political operative Paul Erickson, a Republican consultant.

“All of Butina’s known personal ties, save for those U.S. persons she attempted to exploit and influence, reside in the Russian Federation,” prosecutors wrote in July.

“Because Butina has been exposed as an illegal agent of Russia, there is the grave risk that she will appeal to those within that government with whom she conspired to aid her escape from the United States.”

It's unclear whether prosecutors intend to enter further evidence to attempt to prove that Butina traded sex for positions, but no new conversations were added to the record in Friday's filings.

Both parties are expected to appear in court Monday for a status conference, CNN reported.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; johnbowden; mariabutina; thehill
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This is how you bury a story.

11PM on a Saturday night.

1 posted on 09/08/2018 9:40:56 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen
Let me check with my guy about this because this is something we've heard about


2 posted on 09/08/2018 9:45:21 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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Kamala Harris actually traded sex for political access. And now she’s in the US Senate.


3 posted on 09/08/2018 9:50:02 PM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: yesthatjallen

She should sue them for libel. They can hardly weasel out of it when they libel her in a court filing.


4 posted on 09/08/2018 10:02:50 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Number of arrested coup conspirators to date: 1)
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To: yesthatjallen

Here’s the original affidavit with Kevin Nelson representing the FBI. The Text referred to is in it. But, the entire affidavit is incredibly politically biased.

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4604739-Maria-Butina-charging-affidavit.html


5 posted on 09/08/2018 10:16:19 PM PDT by HollyB
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To: yesthatjallen
Ain't Guilty and Mueller is a Fag


6 posted on 09/08/2018 11:32:17 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZGw2M)
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To: yesthatjallen

Prosecutors argued in Friday’s filings that there was still reason to question Butina’s sexual history...

This is the point to which the Mueller probe has degenerated.


7 posted on 09/08/2018 11:37:51 PM PDT by Flick Lives
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To: yesthatjallen
so...Paul Erickson was untouchable so they messed with his galpal…"other communications call into doubt her commitment to her boyfriend" - how smarmy of them. Whoever wrote that as part of a court filing should be fired.
8 posted on 09/08/2018 11:53:03 PM PDT by blueplum ( "...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
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To: Olog-hai

Kamala Harris actually traded sex for political access. And now she’s in the US Senate.


Oh. I thought she was President. Maybe she didn’t sleep with the right people. What I love is paying for my city police to protect her while she doles out the BJ’s. She can’t be getting ahead (whoops) with those brains.


9 posted on 09/08/2018 11:56:43 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Yaelle

She thinks she’s President too. A modern-day Jezebel.


10 posted on 09/09/2018 12:00:14 AM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: yesthatjallen

Believe it or not, it’s front page news here.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Prosecutors back off claim that accused Russian agent Maria Butina traded sex for access
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/prosecutors-appear-to-back-off-claim-that-accused-russian-agent-maria-butina-traded-sex-for-access/2018/09/08/d47136de-b3a2-11e8-aed9-001309990777_story.html


11 posted on 09/09/2018 12:22:26 AM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: Vendome

Agreed, not guilty.


12 posted on 09/09/2018 2:13:18 AM PDT by wastedyears (The left would kill every single one of us and our families if they knew they could get away with it)
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To: yesthatjallen
Prosecutors argued in Friday's filings that there was still reason to question Butina's sexual history, writing that "[e]ven granting that the government's understanding of this particular text conversation was mistaken," other communications call into doubt her commitment to her boyfriend and therefore merit her designation as a flight risk.

I wonder if they aver made similar comments about Strzok and his disposable play toy.....

13 posted on 09/09/2018 4:03:20 AM PDT by trebb (So many "experts" with so little experience in what they preach....even here...)
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To: yesthatjallen

I’m glad the false allegation has been acknowledged, but it’s a hard bell to unring,” he added.

Like hell it is, the judge should have found the prosecutor in contempt, remanded for 30 days and a criminal referral for perjury, fraud upon the court, obstruction of justice,...then dismssed all charges with prejudice


14 posted on 09/09/2018 4:56:22 AM PDT by eyeamok
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To: trebb
[e]ven granting that the government's understanding of this particular text conversation was mistaken," other communications call into doubt her commitment to her boyfriend and therefore merit her designation as a flight risk

This is just embarrassing.

15 posted on 09/09/2018 5:06:02 AM PDT by niteowl77
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To: Vendome

It seems like the vast majority of swamp denizens are into fagotry.


16 posted on 09/09/2018 5:50:19 AM PDT by jospehm20
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...
By 'mistaken' they mean, they were lying..

17 posted on 09/09/2018 7:25:44 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
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To: yesthatjallen
this thing is sooo top heavy it's got to tip over soon or later
18 posted on 09/09/2018 8:11:26 AM PDT by Chode ( WeÂ’re America, Bitch!)
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To: yesthatjallen
I give up, what do you want to know?


19 posted on 09/09/2018 8:15:03 AM PDT by TruthWillWin ([MSM])
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To: Olog-hai

Kamela...... the sexpot Yellow Rose of California


20 posted on 09/09/2018 8:18:37 AM PDT by bert ((KE. N.P. N.C. +12) Muller..... conspiracy to over throw the government)
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