Russian agent Maria Butina sentenced to 18 months with credit for time served
Butina pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered agent for the Kremlin; chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge reports from the U.S. district court in Washington.
A Russian agent deported to Moscow after serving jail time in the United States has accepted a state job defending Russians imprisoned abroad, according to media reports.
Russian human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova recently offered the agent, Maria Butina, the job during her first public appearance since being deported last month.
“She accepted the proposal,” the TASS news agency quoted Moskalkova as saying on Friday.
MARIA BUTINA ARRIVES IN MOSCOW AFTER FLORIDA PRISON RELEASE, DEPORTATION
Russian national Maria Butina attends a meeting on human rights at the State Duma in Moscow on Friday. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
She did not say when Butina would start. The 31-year-old was released from a Florida prison in October after serving nearly 18 months over a charge of acting as an agent for a foreign government.
Federal prosecutors said Butina used contacts within the National Rifle Association and the National Prayer Breakfast to get close to politicians and get information to benefit Russia.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The case has strained American-Russian relations; Moscow slammed Butina's conviction and allegations that it meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Antisemitism Exposed
Fox News' Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world."
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.