NRA President Offered to Work With Accused Russian Spy's Group in Moscow

[jpak]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/07/nra-russia-maria-butina-alexander-torshin-republicans-trump/

In an investigation published on Thursday, Mother Jones documented the deep ties between the National Rifle Association and two Russians accused by the FBI of carrying out a malign political influence operation inside the United States: Maria Butina, a self-styled gun activist and former graduate student indicted in federal court this week, and Alexander Torshin, her alleged handler and a high-level Russian government and banking official from President Vladimir Putin’s party. According to federal prosecutors, the goal of the conspiracy was to gain access to top Republicans, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, and “advance the interests of the Russian Federation.”

In pursuit of their mission, Butina and Torshin spent a lot of time cultivating the National Rifle Association—and NRA officials eagerly welcomed the Russians into their midst. A video recorded in Moscow in 2013, little-noticed until now, shows how a top NRA official enthusiastically cooperated with the Russians to help them build up a new Russian gun-rights group that Butina and Torshin used for their influence operation.

One NRA leader with whom the pair of Russians developed long-term ties was David Keene, an NRA board member who served as president of the organization from 2011 to 2013. In fall 2013, Keene traveled to Moscow at their invitation for a meeting of about 200 gun-rights advocates hosted by The Right to Bear Arms, a fledgling group Butina had set up in 2011. In a video recorded during the event, Butina introduces Keene, who thanks her by her first name as he takes the podium. Keene then begins an eight-minute speech to the group with comments about his warm ongoing relationship with Torshin, who was sanctioned by the Treasury Department this April and has been accused of mob ties and money laundering by the Spanish government. (Torshin denies those allegations.)

“It’s a great honor for me to be here today,” Keene says, “partly because over the course of the last three years, I’ve hosted your senator, Alexander Torshin, at the National Rifle Association annual meetings.”

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Like your Fucking NRA now?

[Frustratedlady]

1. I've been trying to remember what happened to the head of NRA that we all hate...

Wayne P. Could I have read recently that Oliver North was going to be head of the NRA or am I all wet? In seeing the article above, I'm wondering if Wayne Baby fled before the shit hit the fan.

With so many names flying around this Russian spy novel of the Republican Party, I find my brain becoming more and more scrambled each day. Please straighten me out on the above if I'm wrong.

[Hoyt]

4. Folks like Keene and North are NRA Presidents, elected by membership. LaPierre is CEO

and is typically more important than the largely ceremonial Prez in spreading white wing ideology of the NRA.

[Sneederbunk]

2. It was an incredible offer.

Wayne LaPierre is CEO and Executive Vice President of NRA. That old traitor Oliver North is NRA President.

[Frustratedlady]

3. Thanks for the info.

I knew I had Wayne's name wrong, but couldn't remember.

They are both disgusting. Should get along just fine. I hope that when the facts come out, the NRA and Republicans are greatly humbled.