Accused Russian spy Maria Butina will remain in jail without bail during her trial, according to the judge overseeing the case against her.
Citing a risk of flight, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan said she could see no conditions that would prevent Butina, who has been held in a local jail for two months, from fleeing the country if she wished.
The judge also placed a gag order on both Butina’s defense team and federal prosecutors, telling lawyer Kevin Driscoll that he “overstepped” with his continued comments to the media.
“I do find that your comments have crossed the line,” Chutkan said, reminding him that the jury pool in Washington is already small in the effort for a fair trial.
Chutkan also scolded federal prosecutors for another misstep. In court papers filed late last week, they said they were “mistaken” when they accused the 29-year-old of offering sexual favors to someone for employment.
The accusations were “rather salacious,” Chutkan said, and said she was “concerned” someone in the Justice Department looked at the messages about sex and took them seriously.
Butina is charged with conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent, during which she allegedly engaged in a yearslong campaign for Russia to “advance the interests of her home country” in the U.S.
These accusations include infiltrating political organizations to gain influence for the Kremlin, including the National Rifle Association.
She worked at the direction of a “high-level official in the Russian government,” court papers filed in January alleged. That person is likely Alexander Torshin, who was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in April.
The next status hearing is set for Nov. 13, as both sides have waived enforcement of the Speedy Trial Act of 1974. The case is not related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian election interference.
