MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network-WSAU) — A woman charged Monday as a Russian spy had brief contact with Scott Walker several years ago.
The Milwaukee Journel Sentinal reports the encounter happened during the launch of Walker’s brief campaign for presdent in 2015. Maria Butina did pose for a photo with Walker at a kick-off event in Waukesha. It happened in public as Walker was doing a meet-and-greet with supporters according to a report earlier this year in Mother Jones magazine.
According to court documents filed Monday, the 29-year-old Butina attempted to establish lines of communication with American politicians that could be used to influence U.S. decision-making about Russia. Court papers said she volunteered to introduce candidates to people who could advise them on forign policy involving the Russian Federation who were actually Russian spies.
It’s not thought that she had any additional contact with Walker, who dropped out of the presidential race a few months later.