Butina: Mainstream Media Hype and Deception

Marina Butina entered the scene making splashy headlines. A pretty Russian spy seeking to infiltrate US political circles and sleeping her way to the information at that. The media loved it, especially as Trump had just met with Putin and angered many in the American Establishment. It was like something from a television programme or a movie.

But then they had to back off. The portrait they painted of her started to fall apart. Well now with her 'guilty' plea deal they've got some solid evidence. Right?

She's taken what amounts to a six month plea deal admitting her guilt, admitting that she is indeed a Russian spy.

And yet as I listen to NPR, read the BBC, the Washington Post and New York Times I'm left wondering. Is there a legal analyst to be found? Of course not, because a legal analyst would quickly reveal something... something that undermines the whole story.

The plea indicates the government has no case. The woman has already served five months. The plea deal means they're going to let her go, probably soon and deport her. They have nothing.

Because if they did, they wouldn't let her walk and there would be a wider investigation involving a lot more people.

So not only did they have to walk back all the talk of her using sex for secrets, now it turns out she may not have even been a genuine spy. Despite the initial narratives it's quite clear she didn't act like a spy.

So why the guilty plea? Why would she do that? Anyone who follows our legal system will immediately know why. She can either rot for a couple of years while they dig up stuff on her or she can basically walk now and try to pick up the pieces of her life. She's hardly alone in taking the guilty plea. People will plead guilty for all kinds of things they had nothing to do with. I personally know of several people who have done this. Do you maintain your innocence and pay a terrible price or do you take the deal and walk away from it all?

Prosecutors put on their best mean and threatening face in order to intimidate. If they have to take a case to trial they are going to inflict maximum pain and make sure they destroy you. Or, give them the feather in their cap and in this case give the media something to puff... and you can walk away. It's certainly a victory for the Mueller probe. Not a real or legal victory but a media victory.

And I've noticed that in terms of 'links', even though the older stories about her have been discredited, it doesn't matter. The stories are still out there. The BBC is certainly happy to link to them, happy to perpetuate the myth.

In the end what is she? She may indeed be some kind of agent. She may be the gun fanatic her past points to. As far as the charges, the fact that they're letting her go, indicates the charges are essentially worthless.

So even though the plea is being hyped by the media and they will certainly keep milking it... there's essentially nothing there. But it doesn't matter. It generates the fog which is growing ever thicker. In reality the whole episode is outrageous and the more you look at this event and scores like it, the more you will realise the mainstream media is many things but news is at best a secondary concern. Truth is something that can be used when convenient but when it's inconvenient, the system and the policy take precedent.

Of course one of the great ironies is that even if it's true, that the Russians were putting feelers out and seeking to propagandise the public, the US has done this 100-fold (at least) in dozens of countries around the world. It does not exonerate Moscow, but it must be pointed out once again that either our media is profoundly stupid and ill-informed or just plain corrupt.

Given that the coverage of the Butina plea deal is being manipulated, I think I know the answer. I know one thing. I put no stock in her confession and apparently neither does the prosecutor. But it sure makes great news and it serves the larger set of goals.