Hey listeners, I want to tell you about a new, true crime, many serious from wondering called spy affair in two thousand sixteen news of russian Interference in the american presidential election shook the nation to its core two years later, Maria Bettina, an alleged russian army, of Central America, the Influence- U S, politics was arrested on charges of being a foreign agent to quickly found herself From the people around her in Building, a massive FBI, investigation Maria, would be. Trade as a spy and a woman who stood a web of lies all focused on complete her primary mission influence when officials in positions of power to benefit or home country, Russia, wonder, is new many serious spy affair is an inside look at the shocking true story of a woman who start

your time in America with a trip to Disneyland and ended it as a convicted criminal. I'm about to play you a brief clip from the go but why you're listening make sure to follow spy affair on apple podcast or you can listen early an ad free by starting A free trial of laundry plus in the Andrea up. lastly, guess: sin city, the men, its capital of the world to America's most beloved casinos, and in July, two thousand fifteen, a sight of Was billed as the largest libertarian conference in the country, freedom fast dozens of business leaders, politicians, journalists, activists, finance, boroughs, flocked to planet Hollywood, hotel among them was Maria Bettina Marie it was from Russia and

there, with her american boyfriend, Paul Eriksson on time. Conservative campaigner there was his idea to go there, He showed me the american political world. Paul was my guide in this world, so he brought me the fate of fast. There is one last minute addition to the speakers list who was getting a lot of attention that year and suddenly I start seeing the people are moving so they coming in and they it's like. People like bees, in all their like sign was in there. This is reason: there's not a single empty seat in the room. We have a packed house. I've never seen anything like this freedom, fast, Maria and Paul settled into their chairs and the celebrity ballroom. Ladies and gentlemen, please they wore round of applause for Donald Trump. Thank you very much. No did he say this was your biggest crowd of the weekend and had only been a few weeks since Donald Trump had descended the golden escalator of Trump tower to now

his run for president in front of crowd in LAS Vegas. He spoke for about a half our the american dream is dead What I'm going to make it bigger and better. Longer than ever before and then took questions. Ok, whore the questions where are they do have a MIKE when Maria sitting in the front row, decided? She should ask a question, so I can stand up the curse. who wouldn't Paul On the other hand, didn't it was a good idea if you really want trust. Question is, of course, why not Maria wrote her question down on a piece of paper says she could read out when she got to the MIKE saw. I would actually as properly men in my English now, because I was quite nervous, I'm visiting from Russia Micronesian good friend of Obama, My realise Obama, on my question

the about foreign politics. She stood before the make with no book in hand. bays shawl draped around her. She I need to know what Trump thought of the economic sanctions the Obama administration had imposed on Russia. If you would be elected as a president, do you want to continue the politics of sanctions that are damaging both economy or you have any other deals? Trump pointed at her. I know potent and I'll tell you what we get along with put potent has no respect for President Obama, big problem, big problem. I believe I would get along very nicely with after birds, Maria SK used herself headed to them stream and made a phone call to a senior russian official. She would in our call it my best report, is questions. Trump had been brief and might have been forgotten, but much later people, look back on that moment in Vegas, and ask who

Maria Outina began, three years after freedom, fast Maria routine undermine was arrested, federal prosecutors, Clay, Maria Bhutan? It was really sent by the Russian Federation to infiltrate bills. The good candidates and the inner investigator say she worked. Access to american political operatives and political groups, including the Trump campaign I step outside, and they put handcuffs and me- and there was my last the fray them Maria, would tell me she was no secret agent, She was a russian citizen who can so the United States to build a better relationship between few countries, she loved by the federal government. Saw something different. I do not expect it, but something inside of me told me that it's gonna be there. A bad, because the answer to that question who is Maria boot Siena depends along.

on who you ask,