Prosecutors in the case of accused Russian agent Maria Butina have walked back their claim she offered sex in exchange for a position within a special interest organization.
In a court filing Friday, prosecutors said they had misunderstood a three-year-old text message exchange between the 29-year-old and a friend back in Russia in which the two had joked about Butina offering the friend sex in exchange for getting her car inspected. Prosecutors had used the messages to claim Butina, who is charged with conspiracy and failing to register as a foreign agent, traded sex for access.
Her attorney had slammed prosecutors over the claim, calling it a “sexist smear.”
“I want the government’s walk back to get as much coverage, as prominently, as their initial false allegation,” said Robert Driscoll, Butina’s attorney, per CNN.
Butina was arrested in July after the American University graduate student allegedly tried to infiltrate conservative political groups, including the National Rifle Association.
Driscoll has claimed she and Republican operative Paul Erickson are in love and have a legitimate relationship.
