Maria Butina Indictment: the Gun Lobby Will Say Anything to Sell More Guns

July 17, 2018

WASHINGTON -- Guns Down, a bolder, broader movement calling for dramatically fewer guns in America, released the following statement after media reports that Russian gun rights advocate Maria Butina was charged with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation in order to help elect Donald Trump President in the 2016 election.

"More and more every day it is looking like Trump's two biggest political supporters -- Russia and the NRA -- colluded to help elect him president in 2016,” said Igor Volsky, Founding Director of Guns Down America. “Today’s news reminds us what we've long known about the gun lobby: they may wrap themselves in patriotism, the Constitution and the American flag, but they'll stop at nothing to help the gun industry sell more guns and grow its political clout. If that means working with a foreign adversary, then so be it."

Politico reported in March that the FEC has opened an investigation into whether Russian entities gave illegal contributions to the National Rifle Association that were intended to benefit the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election.