prosecutors say was a russian spy hiding in plain sight. julia ainsley is outside that court in d.c. this case was brought by federal prosecutors in washington and not by robert mueller's team. >> reporter: that's right, hallie. it's not brought by the special counsel's office but the u.s. attorney's office in d.c. where maria butina has pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the foreign agents act. it could have been legal if she had been forthcoming about it. she came to the united states as a graduate student and american university. she used her positions within the gun rights community and at the direction of alexander torchin, russian official and central bank there to influence the republican party. she used it as unofficial capacity. we'll see butina come into court where she will plead guilty and a key part of this is how she will cooperate. in the plea agreement it says