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<p>WASHINGTON &#8212; A woman accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government has likely taken a plea deal, prosecutors indicated Monday in a court filing that said her case has been &#8220;resolved.&#8221;</p><p>The information was included in a filing in the case against Maria Butina. Federal prosecutors and Butina&#8217;s lawyer filed a joint motion asking to change her plea. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.</p><p>Prosecutors have alleged Butina, 30, gathered intelligence on American officials and political organizations and worked to develop relationships with American politicians through her contacts with the National Rifle Association.</p><p>The charges against Butina were brought by federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., and her case is unrelated to special counsel Robert Mueller&#8217;s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.</p><p>Butina has previously been <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/697062/wilkes-barre-businessman-yenason-mentioned-in-dems-russia-report-speaks-out" target="_blank">described by area businessman John Yenason as a friend</a>, one of two Russians whom he sought to link with Donald Trump&#8217;s 2016 campaign team in the spirit of fellowship, following a prayer meeting in their country two years ago. The other was Alexander Torshin, a Russian government official.</p><p>Yenason has not been accused of any crimes. He was one of more than 30 potential witnesses that Democrats on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee wanted to hear from earlier this year in connection with an investigation into suspected Russian interference with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but never questioned.</p><p>&#8220;There were people who were subpoenaed who did not know Torshin or Butina,&#8221; Yenason previously told the Times Leader. &#8220;I did. Somebody on that committee made a decision to not bring me in &#8212; that there was no collusion.&#8221;</p><p>Prosecutors have charged that Butina&#8217;s work was directed by a former Russian lawmaker who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p><p>Butina, who was arrested in July, was charged with conspiracy and acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Russia. Her lawyer has argued that Butina is a student interested in American politics and better U.S.-Russian relations.</p><p>The documents did not provide details about the resolution. However, for several weeks, prosecutors and Butina&#8217;s lawyer have indicated in court papers that they were negotiating and may have been nearing a plea deal.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">FILE - In this April 21, 2013 file photo, Maria Butina, leader of a pro-gun organization in Russia, speaks to a crowd during a rally in support of legalizing the possession of handguns in Moscow, Russia. Prosecutors say they have &#x201c;resolved&#x201d; a case against Butina accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, a sign that she likely has taken a plea deal. The information was included in a court filing Monday.   (AP Photo/File)</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_121836400-c406854f17a1469d9d45600894702ca9.jpg</photo0><caption0>FILE - In this April 21, 2013 file photo, Maria Butina, leader of a pro-gun organization in Russia, speaks to a crowd during a rally in support of legalizing the possession of handguns in Moscow, Russia. Prosecutors say they have &#x201c;resolved&#x201d; a case against Butina accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government, a sign that she likely has taken a plea deal. The information was included in a court filing Monday.   (AP Photo/File)</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Michael Balsamo</p><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div>

Accused Russian agent case ‘resolved’