Russian Lawmaker Maria Butina Denounces U.S. Election Influence Claims

Russian lawmaker Maria Butina dismissed U.S. claims of Russian influence in the 2024 election as nonsensical. She asserted that the real beneficiary of the election would be the U.S. military-industrial complex. Butina’s remarks came after reports indicated that the U.S. would accuse Russia of spreading disinformation to influence American voters.

Russian lawmaker Maria Butina said on Wednesday that reported U.S. claims suggesting Russia was attempting to influence the 2024 election were nonsense. She argued that the only true winner of the election would be the U.S. military-industrial complex. Butina made these remarks in response to a CNN report indicating that the United States planned to formally accuse Russia of conducting a disinformation campaign aimed at American voters.

"The U.S. claims were and are pure rubbish and a witch hunt," declared Butina, who spent 15 months in a U.S. prison for acting as an unregistered Russian agent and is now serving as a lawmaker for the ruling United Russia party. "Russia thinks it does not matter who wins the U.S. elections – the only winner is the U.S. private military-industrial complex. That is what matters – and nothing else," Butina told Reuters when asked about the CNN report.

The Kremlin and the Russian Foreign Ministry have consistently denied meddling in the U.S. election but affirmed they are closely observing the process.

(With inputs from agencies.)