russia. it wasn't russians she was courting, it was americans. in 2013 she held a concealed carry fashion show in moscow, the stars of america's second amendment movement flew in to spend time with their new best friends. >> there are no people who are more alike than americans and russians. >> at the same event butina met paul ericson, with longstanding ties to the republican party. they started a working relationship that turned into a relationship. >> everything she was doing was essentially political operative 101. go out and build friendships, get people who are willing to do favors for you. >> reporter: soon she was rubbing shoulders with some of the republican establishment heavy hitters, john bolton even