"In response to requests from the Department of Justice and counsel for Maria Butina, we have sought authorization from the Senate to release to both parties the transcript of Ms. Butina's testimony before the Committee. The Committee intends to provide the transcript, provided both parties agree to include it under the auspices of a protective order, which we understand is currently under discussion," Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Mark Warner (D-VA) said in a statement Wednesday.
"Months ago, she voluntarily and privately testified before the bipartisan United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 8 hours and produced thousands of documents," Butina's attorney, Robert Driscoll, previously said in a statement emailed to Sputnik News.
This is good news https://t.co/9fmmcaEImR
— Alex Rubinstein (@RealAlexRubi) 1 августа 2018 г.
Butina, 29, is a recent American University graduate who was arrested in Washington DC on July 15 on charges of conspiracy to act as an agent of a foreign government in the United States.
On July 16, US federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Butina for acting as a foreign agent inside the United States without registering her activities.
Prosecutors allege that Butina tried to gain access to organizations and individuals that have influence in US politics, according to the Justice Department release.
Russia has strongly criticized the US government for detaining Butina and characterized the charges against her as "clearly groundless." However, Butina will reportedly remain in custody until the end of the trial. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in the US prison.
