A U.S. judge ruled Monday that the accused Russian military operative Maria Butina must remain in jail, saying she poses a "very real risk of flight," and also granted the government prosecutors' request for a gag order in the high-stakes case.
"I cannot envision a scenario for Ms. Butina to be released from jail," said U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan today at Butina's case status hearing.
Butina has been jailed since mid-July following a request by prosecutors who cited what they called her preparations to move away from Washington.
Releasing Butina would result in her being "placed into a car with diplomatic tags," then being being whisked away to the airport for a flight to Russia, said Judge Chutkan.
At the DC courthouse, where I just tried to speak to two men who, before the Butina hearing, were outside the courtroom conversing with Butina attorney Robert Driscoll. Men confirmed they are from Russian embassy, declined to give me their names or roles.
— Hannah Levintova (@H_Lev) September 10, 2018
That sounds about right.
From the Reuters story:
Chutkan imposed a media gag order after prosecutors accused Butina's defense attorney, Robert Driscoll, of violating court rules by speaking publicly about the evidence in ways that could taint the jury pool.
The judge said she agreed that Driscoll's repeated comments to the news media had "crossed the line." Chutkan also warned Driscoll to stop using "quite descriptive" and "colorful" language in the briefs he has filed with the court in the case.
The 29-year-old Butina, a former American University graduate student, was charged in July with acting as an agent of the Russian government and conspiracy to take actions on behalf of Russia. She has pleaded not guilty. She could face years in prison if convicted.
Her lawyers had sought Butina's release from jail pending trial.
the next time maria butina will be in court is 11/13, for another status hearing. defense is still in the process of filing motions (including motion to dismiss) and the federal government is still going through evidence/turning it over to defense. both sides waived speedy trial.
— kelly cohen (@politiCOHEN_) September 10, 2018
Alleged Russian agent Maria Butina had a bad day in court today: She lost her latest effort to get out of jail pending trial, and the judge imposed a gag order after finding that her lawyer's repeat press appearances "crossed a line" https://t.co/sYueRy4sRh
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) September 10, 2018
The judge had critical words for the Justice Dept., which backtracked on allegations that Butina had tried to trade sex for a job.
"It took me approximately 5 minutes to read those emails and tell that they were jokes," the judge said. (background: https://t.co/Y5VCv59Amj)
— NPR (@NPR) September 10, 2018
the judge also scolded federal prosecutors for last week's misstep, when the DOJ said they were "mistaken" by describing the messages butina sent about sex as being serious in offering sex for employment; judge said she was "dismayed" someone at the DOJ read the messages that way
— kelly cohen (@politiCOHEN_) September 10, 2018
Alleged Russian agent Maria Butina had a bad day in court today: She lost her latest effort to get out of jail pending trial, and the judge imposed a gag order after finding that her lawyer's repeat press appearances "crossed a line" https://t.co/sYueRy4sRh
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) September 10, 2018
Bizarre. The Outdoor Channel enlisted Maria Butina to pitch a "non-political" series called "Putin's Russia." It would have featured Putin hunting, fishing, etc. I'm having trouble getting past the "non-political" show with Putin as the star. Seriously? https://t.co/ulIHkUcQ3h
— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) September 10, 2018