As accused Russian agent Maria Butina prepares to appear in court Thursday morning to change her plea from "not guilty" to "guilty" in person, her boyfriend's lawyer has issued a statement proclaiming his client's innocence.
“Paul Erickson is a good American. He has never done anything to hurt our country and never would.”
Erickson, a well-known conservative politico, struck up a relationship with Butina, 29, in 2013. Butina, originally from Russia and an avid activist for gun rights, attended American University and worked closely with Russian central bank official Alexander Torshin to influence American politics, according to court records. Butina is currently in an Alexandria jail on charges of conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent ...
Throughout the Butina court documents, federal investigators mention a “U.S. Person 1”—an individual Butina worked with, dated, and used to make connections with “an extensive network” of right-wing political figures. That person, whom documents say is closely tied to the National Rifle Association, is largely believed to be Erickson.
The Daily Beast reported last week that federal investigators sent Erickson a target letter in September saying they may charge him with acting as an agent of a foreign government too.
Paul Erickson, Maria Butina’s Boyfriend, Reacts to Her Plea Agreement (The Daily Beast)