In plea papers, prosecutors agreed to drop a second count against Butina of violating a law that requires foreigners working for their government to register with the U.S. Justice Department. There is no suggestion in the documents that Butina was employed by the Russian intelligence services, but violations of that law are considered more serious than a separate law that requires registration by paid lobbyists for foreign entities.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 13, 2018 16:52 UTC