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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2018)
A5 THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018 Russian woman admits to being a secret agent By MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON — A Russian woman accused of being a secret agent admit- ted today that she conspired to infi ltrate the American gun-rights movement to gather intelligence on con- servative political groups as Donald Trump rose to power. Maria Butina, 30, agreed to plead guilty to a conspir- acy charge as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. The case, which is sep- arate from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investiga- tion into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, has offered insight into how Moscow seeks to infl uence American policy. Prosecutors say Butina and her Russian patron, Alexander Torsion, used their contacts in the National Rifl e Association to pur- sue Russian back channels to American conservatives during that campaign, when Republican Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. Butina’s case, brought by federal prosecutors in Wash- ington, also comes amid a broader push by the Jus- tice Department to enforce U.S. laws governing for- eign agents, including those accused of working for Russia. As part of her deal, Butina pleaded guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to act as an unregistered for- eign agent and she agreed to cooperate with investigators. She probably will be deported from the U.S. after her sentence is completed. The charge carries a maxi- Associated Press Maria Butina, leader of a pro-gun organization in Russia, speaks to a crowd in 2013 during a rally in support of legalizing the possession of handguns in Moscow. mum sentence of fi ve years in prison, though the defense noted today that federal sen- tencing guidelines recom- mend no time to six months. Authorities charged that Butina’s work was directed by Torshin, a Russian gov- ernment bank offi cial now under sanction by the Trea- sury Department for his ties to Russian President Vladi- mir Putin. Prosecutors also have said that Butina’s boyfriend, conservative political oper- ative Paul Erickson, identi- fi ed in court papers as “U.S. Person 1,” helped her estab- lish ties with the NRA. In their fi lings, prosecu- tors have said federal agents found Butina had contact information for people sus- pected of being employed by Russia’s Federal Security Services, or FSB, the suc- cessor intelligence agency to the KGB. Inside her home, they found notes referring to a potential job offer from the FSB, according to the documents. Investigators recovered several emails and Twit- ter direct message conver- sations in which Butina referred to the need to keep her work secret and, in one instance, said it should be “incognito.” Prosecutors said Butina had contact with Russian intelligence offi - cials and that the FBI pho- tographed her dining with a diplomat suspected of being a Russian intelligence agent. Butina’s lawyer, Rob- ert Driscoll, had previously decried the charges against her as “overblown” and said prosecutors criminalized her mundane networking oppor- tunities. He has said his cli- ent was a student interested in American politics and wanted to see a better rela- tionship between the U.S. and Russia. Butina, jailed since her arrest in July, had mounted an aggressive defense and tried to have the charges against her tossed. But for several weeks, Butina’s law- yers and federal prosecu- tors had indicated in court papers that they were work- ing toward a resolution in the case. WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press Detentions raise tensions between China, US, Canada BEIJING — China confi rmed today that it has detained two Canadian men, raising the stakes in a three-way dispute over a Chinese technology executive facing possible extra- dition from Canada to the United States. Entrepreneur Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were taken into custody Monday on suspicion of “engaging in activities that endanger the national secu- rity” of China, said foreign ministry spokes- man Lu Kang. Lu said Canada was informed but declined to say whether the men have been provided with lawyers. The cases are being handled separately by local bureaus of the national intelligence agency in Beijing, where Kovrig was picked up, and the northeastern city of Dandong, where Spavor lived. The two cases ratchet up pressure on Can- ada, which is holding Meng Wenzhou, the chief fi nancial offi cer of Huawei Technol- ogies Ltd. She was arrested Dec. 1 at the request of the United States, which wants her extradited to face bank fraud charges. Despite the escalating frictions resulting from the detentions, trade talks between Bei- jing and the Trump administration remain ongoing. The two sides have taken pains this week to emphasize that their trade talks are entirely separate from the U.S. case against Meng and any retaliatory moves by Beijing. Virgin Galactic rocket ship reaches space in test fl ight MOJAVE, Calif. — Virgin Galactic’s tourism spaceship climbed more than 50 miles high above California’s Mojave Des- ert today, reaching for the fi rst time what the company considers the boundary of space. The rocket ship reached an altitude of 51 miles before beginning its gliding descent, said mission offi cial Enrico Palermo. The craft landed on a runway minutes later. Today’s fl ight takes Virgin Galactic a big step closer to turning the dream of commer- cial space tourism into reality. The company aims to take paying customers on the six-pas- senger rocket, which is about the size of an executive jet. Virgin Galactic found Richard Branson has said he wants to be one of the fi rst on board. Virgin Galactic considers 50 miles the boundary of space because it is used by the U.S. Air Force and other U.S. agencies. That’s different than a long-held view that the boundary is at 62 miles. Virgin Galac- tic CEO George Whitesides noted that recent research favors the lower altitude. Virgin Galactic’s development of its spaceship took far longer than expected and endured a setback when the fi rst experimen- tal craft broke apart during a 2014 test fl ight, killing the co-pilot. More than 600 people have committed up to $250,000 for rides that include several minutes of weightlessness and a view of the Earth far below. Pelosi compromises for support to return as speaker (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 PM NEW YORK — The Boy Scouts of America says it is exploring “all options” to address serious fi nancial challenges, but is declining to confi rm or deny a report that it may seek bankruptcy protection in the face of declining membership and sex-abuse litigation. “I want to assure you that our daily mission will continue and that there are no imminent actions or immediate deci- sions expected,” Chief Scout Executive Mike Surbaugh said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. Surbaugh was responding to a Wall Street Journal report that the BSA, founded in 1910, had hired a law fi rm to assist in a possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy fi ling. He described the report as “news speculation,” but he acknowledged that the group is “working with experts to explore all options available” as well as the pressures arising from multi- ple lawsuits related to past instances of sex- ual abuse. “We have a social and moral responsibil- ity to fairly compensate victims who suffered abuse during their time in Scouting, and we also have an obligation to carry out our mis- sion to serve youth, families and local com- munities through our programs,” Surbaugh said. Other institutions facing multifaceted sex- ual abuse scandals have sought bankruptcy protection recently. USA Gymnastics took the step last week as it attempts to settle doz- ens of lawsuits related to abuse by now-im- prisoned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. MULTI-STATE Oregon Included no-fee $ 80 OREGON ONLY $ 45 Required class to get an Oregon or multi-State permit. Class includes: • Fingerprinting & photo • Oregon gun laws • Washington gun laws • Interstate travel laws • Interaction with law enforcement • Use of deadly force • Firearm / ammunition / holster selection December 14 th • 6p.m. Best Western • 555 Hamburg Ave • Astoria SCHEDULE T HURSDAY E VENING L Boy Scouts exploring ‘all options’ to address fi scal problems WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi shrugged off suggestions today that she weakened herself by agreeing to limit her tenure as next House speaker to a four-year maximum, a deal that clears the way for her to be elected to the post for the new Congress. “That’s a long time,” she said at a news conference a day after she and seven insur- gents who’d been pushing for younger lead- ership announced their pact. For weeks, the 78-year-old California Democrat had resisted opponents’ demands that she step aside or restrict how long she’d serve, saying limits would make her a lame duck and sap her bargaining clout. But on Wednesday she relented and struck a deal that all but guarantees she’ll be elected when the House votes on its new speaker on Jan. 3. Democrats widely agreed that the pledge meant Pelosi had clinched a comeback to the post she held from 2007 until January 2011, the last time her party ran the House and the fi rst time the speaker was a woman. Wednesday’s accord gives Pelosi a clear path to becoming the most powerful Demo- crat in government and a leading role in con- fronting President Donald Trump during the upcoming 2020 presidential and congressio- THE DAILY ASTORIAN A nal campaigns. It moves a 78-year-old white woman to the cusp of steering next year’s diverse crop of House Democrats, with its large number of female, minority and younger members. Evening listings THURSDAY D ECEMBER 13 A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 KATU News at 6 (N) Jeopardy! (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Prep and Landing Prep & Landing 2 Baking Show "Cookie Week" (N) Baking Show "Bread Week" (N) News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News (N) Wheel Fortune (N) Jeopardy! (N) Prep and Landing Prep & Landing 2 Baking Show "Cookie Week" (N) Baking Show "Bread Week" (N) KOMO 4 News (N) (:35) Jimmy Kimmel NBC News (N) KING 5 News (N) KING 5 News (N) Evening Superstore (N) I Feel Bad (N) Saturday Night Live "A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special" KING 5 News (N) (:35) Tonight Show KOIN Local 6 (N) Evening News (N) Extra Ent. Tonight (N) The Big Bang (N) Young Sheldon (N) Mom (N) Murphy Brown (N) S.W.A.T. "Patrol" News (N) (:35) Colbert (N) KIRO 7 News (N) Evening News (N) KIRO 7 News (N) Ent. Tonight (N) The Big Bang (N) Young Sheldon (N) Mom (N) Murphy Brown (N) S.W.A.T. "Patrol" KIRO 7 News (N) (:35) Colbert (N) KGW News at 6:00 p.m. (N) Tonight Cassidy Inside Edition Superstore (N) I Feel Bad (N) Saturday Night Live "A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special" News (N) (:35) Tonight Show Modern Family Modern Family The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Supernatural "The Spear" (N) Legacies (N) News (N) Friends Two and a Half Two and a Half Destination Craft Business (N) PBS NewsHour (N) Oregon Art Beat Oregon Guide Midsomer M. (:40) Midsomer Murders Masterpiece Classic "Unforgotten" Prime News (N) Family Feud Family Feud 10 O'Clock News (N) News (N) Page Six TV (5:20) NFL Football Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Site: Arrowhead Stadium (L) Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Prime News (N) Prime News (N) Big Bang Theory Family Guy American Dad! The Game (5:20) NFL Football Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs Site: Arrowhead Stadium (L) Gameday Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Q13 NEWS AT 10 (N) News (N) The Simpsons Family Guy Family Guy Seinfeld Seinfeld Seinfeld Seinfeld Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory The Guest Book Seinfeld Black-ish Black-ish Mom Modern Family Mom Modern Family Q13 News at 9 (N) Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Two and a Half Two and a Half NCAA Studio NCAA Volleyball Division I Tournament (L) SportsCenter (N) SportsCenter With Scott Van Pelt (N) SportsCenter (N) SportsCenter (N) Poker World Series Poker World Series SportsCenter (N) Highly Question Around the Horn Interruption First Take The hottest topics in sports are debated. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (‘04) Tom Kenny. The Loud House The Loud House The Loud House The Loud House The Loud House SpongeBob Friends Friends Coop & Cami Coop & Cami Bunk'd Bunk'd Raven's Home Raven's Home Coop & Cami Stuck in Middle Bunk'd Bunk'd Raven's Home Raven's Home (5:45) The Holiday (2006, Romance) Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz. (:55) The Santa Clause (‘94) Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Tim Allen. The 700 Club (5:50) Rio (‘11) Jesse Eisenberg. (:45) Rio 2 (‘14, Ani) Anne Hathaway, Rodrigo Santoro, Jesse Eisenberg. (:40) Life of Pi (2012, Fantasy) Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Suraj Sharma. Christmas on the Bayou (2013, Romance) Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, Markie Post. The Christmas Pact (2018, Romance) Jarod Joseph, Kadeem Hardison, Kyla Pratt. (:05) Christmas Harmony (‘18, Rom) Chandra Wilson, Adam Mayfield, Kelley Jakle. Hot Rod Chronicling the life of the great Rod Hundley. Press Pass (N) Press Pass The Fantasy Football Hour (N) Formula E Preview Poker (5:00) Champions Tennis Helpful Cup UFC UFC Fight Night 122 PBC Countdown PBC Countdown TMZ Sports (N) Main Event "Nunes vs. Pennington" UFC Tonight Fair Game I Am Legend (2007, Sci-Fi) Alice Braga, April Grace, Will Smith. Mom Mom Friends Friends Friends Friends Walking Tall (‘04) (:50) The Office "Two Weeks" (:25) The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Office The Daily Show (N) The Office 1/2 (:15) The Office American Pickers "Frank's Birthday" American Pickers "40 Acre Pick" American Pickers "Real Knuckleheads" Pickers "Pickin' Through the Snow" (N) (:05) American Pickers "Texas Pick'em" (:05) American Pickers "Pickin' the 60s" The First 48 "Lost Boys" Live PD: Patrol Live PD: Patrol Live PD: Patrol Live PD: Patrol Live PD: Patrol Live PD: Patrol PD Cam PD Cam (:05) PD Cam (:35) PD Cam Invasion of the Christmas Lights Dr. Pimple Popper "A Lipoma Jackpot" Dr. Pimple "The Lipoma Whisperer" Dr. Pimple Popper "The 12 Pops of Christmas" (N) Crazy Obsession Dr. Pimple Popper "Dr. Pimple Popper" Exp. Unkown "Finding Fenn's Fortune" Exp. Unkn. "Butch Cassidy's Lost Loot" Expedition Unknown "Plummer's Gold" Exp. Unkown "Virginia Is For Lovers" (N) To Be Announced Legendary "Another Man's Treasure" Hard Time "Breaking Point" Lockdown "Inmate University" Lockdown "Gang vs. Family" Hard Time "Prison Changes You" (N) Lockdown "Surviving Stateville" Lockdown "Gang vs. Family" NBA Basketball Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns Site: Talking Stick Resort Arena -- Phoenix, Ariz. (L) Inside the NBA NBA Basketball L.A. Lakers vs Houston (5:00) NBA Basketball L.A. Lakers vs Houston (L) Miracle on 34th Street (‘47) Natalie Wood, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara. (:15) Miracle on 34th Street (1947, Family) Natalie Wood, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara. (5:00) The Sons of Mistletoe White Christmas Law & Order: S.V.U. "P.C." Law & Order: S.V.U. "Savior" Law & Order: S.V.U. "Confidential" Law & Order: S.V.U. "Witness" Law & Order: S.V.U. "Conned" Modern Family Modern Family Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Cookie Challenge "Mr. and Mrs. Claus" Cmas Cookie "Spice Up Your Christmas" Wars "When the Elves Call in Sick" Beat Flay (N) Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop FlipFlop ATL (N) FlipFlop Atlanta House Hunters (N) House Hunters (N) House Hunters House Hunters Inferno (2016, Mystery) Felicity Jones, Irrfan Khan, Tom Hanks. Inferno (2016, Mystery) Felicity Jones, Tom Hanks. (5:30) Deepwater Horizon (‘16) Kurt Russell, Mark Wahlberg. Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight With Don Lemon CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Anderson Cooper 360 Cuomo Prime Time CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Hannity The Ingraham Angle Fox News @ Night Tucker Carlson Tonight Hannity The Ingraham Angle Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Shark Tank Paid Program Paid Program Vanderpump Rules "A Decent Proposal" Vanderpump Rules Top Chef Top Chef (N) (:15) Below Deck "Let Them Eat Chicken" (:15) Watch (N) (:45) Top Chef Flirtation Walk (1934, Musical) Ruby Keeler, Pat O'Brien, Dick Powell. Colleen (1936, Musical) Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell. (5:00) Shipmates Forever Dick Powell. (:45) Dames (1934, Musical) Dick Powell, Joan Blondell. (4:05) Fast Five (2011, Action) Vin Diesel. (:05) Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015, Action) Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr.. Flyers "All That We Have Found" (SF) (N) (:55) The Incredible Hulk SF Machinery Small Town Rural America 'Live' (N) Steve Lantvit (N) Rural Eve. News Grown GA Farm Monitor SF Machinery Small Town Time Life Library