Alleged Russian Spy Cooperating Ahead of Hearing, U.S. Officials Say

In this courtroom sketch, Maria Butina, left, is shown next to her attorney Robert Driscoll, before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, during a court hearing at the U.S. District Court in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018. Maria Butina, a Russian accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in federal court in Washington. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

Alleged Russian Spy, Maria Butina, pleads guilty to one-count of conspiracy against the U.S. on behalf of a Russian Official as apart of a plea deal.
The 30-year-old Russian National made the admission in federal court on Thursday, claiming she inflitrated U.S. political circles under the orders of Alexander Torshin, according to CNN. She initially plead not guility to the charges.
Prosecutors accused Butina of infilitrating groups like the National Rifle Association to establish informal lines of communications with powerful Americans and push Russian interests.
She is being held in solitary confinement in a nothern Virginia jail, where she has been held since her arrest in July.
Cooperation from an accused Russian Spy is highly unusual. U.S. prosecutors say Butina has been offering information about her American boyfriend and the Republican political operative who helped her network with conservative groups. However, it is unclear how much information she can offer on Russian influence operations.
Her attorney said her guilty plea was voluntary and she is happy with her legal representation.