GOP: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Former American University grad student Maria Butina pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy against the United States, acting as an unregistered agent of the Russian Federation, and seeking to influence U.S. conservative politicians through the National Rifle Association. It’s a salacious spy story of sex, guns, money, and the National Prayer Breakfast, and it’s packed with oligarchs, Republicans, lobbyists, Treasury officials and Kremlin connections, a saga spanning the globe from Siberia to South Dakota.

Ms. Butina, deemed a flight risk, has been imprisoned since her indictment in July. We hope she’s been able to continue with her Tai Chi in jail. There are indications she will be testifying before a federal grand jury sometime soon.

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Short link: https://wp.me/p6sb6-rVM

Top image (“Maria ‘Natasha Fatale’ Butina, after Jay Ward and Alex Anderson“) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Book Reports

 South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford attended Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, the annual shindig thrown by his C Street pals. He took the official state airplane, of course. Fellow adulterer John Ensign was also in the congregation.

The Governor may have spend a day with the Good Book, but Friday is the release date of another publication, one written by his estranged wife, Jenny Sanford. First reviews describe Mrs. Sanford’s memoir, Keeping Faith, as honest and dignified, traits not shared by her philandering husband.

Ensign Evicted From C Street?

Senator John Ensign (R-NV) is leaving his long-time DC digs at 133 C Street SE on Capitol Hill, where a conservative Christian cabal maintains rooms for powerful lawmakers (the building is registered as a church and pays no taxes). Is “the Fellowship” forcing Senator Ensign to leave his below-market bargain pied-à-terre?

No. The senator maintains he left on his own, to spare other house residents further negative publicity — as if he, Chip Pickering, and  Mark Sanford had never lived, loved, and prayed at C Street. It is true, though, that Mr. Ensign, an Evangelical, will probably have to face the glare of the Senate Ethics Committee to explain the pay-offs made to his mistress, Cynthia Hampton, by his father, gambling magnate Mike Ensign. There is also talk of a Justice Department inquiry.