Accused Russian Spy Maria Butina Has Reached Plea Deal, Court Filing Suggests

Maria Butina, who was arrested in July for allegedly working as a Kremlin agent to influence conservatives in the U.S., requested on Monday a “change of plea” hearing, suggesting she’s reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Butina, a former American University student, has reportedly been in talks to strike a plea deal with investigators. She has been in jail since her initial arrest. As ABC News previously reported, Butina allegedly touted her access to “high-ranking Kremlin officials” including President Vladimir Putin, and worked to set up a meeting between top-level NRA members and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. She also allegedly infiltrated a Washington, D.C., think tank, and formed close relationships with a series of high-level American conservatives.