"POLITICAL PARTY 1"], would likely obtain control over the US. government after the 2016 elections; that POLITICAL PARTY 1 is "traditionally associated with negative and aggressive foreign policy, particularly with regards to Russia. However, now with the right to negotiate seems best to build konstruktivnyh [sic] relations;" and that "[c]entral place and influence in the [POLITICAL PARTY 1] plays the [GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION]. The [GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION] [is] the largest sponsor of the elections to the US congress, as well as a sponsor of The CPAC conference and other events."
19. The March 24, 2015 email further highlighted BUTINA's relationship with the GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION's leadership, including her attendance at events in the United States and BUTINA's and the RUSSIAN OFFICIAL's connections to officials of the GUN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. BUTINA described recent visits to the United States, including references to instances when she was introduced to POLITICAL PARTY 1 leaders as a "representative of informal diplomacy" of the Russian Federation. BUTINA's project proposal concluded by noting, "[t]he resulting status needs to be strengthened is in the current time interval, before the presidential election in 2016," and requesting a budget of $125,000 for BUTINA to participate in "all upcoming major conferences" of POLITICAL PARTY 1.
20. In late March 2015, U.S. Person 1 replied to BUTINA via email with the subject "Potential American Contacts":
Dear Maria,
* * *
Your challenge in your "special project" will be to balance two opposing imperatives: Your desire to communicate that you speak for Russian interests that will be ascendant (still around) in a post-Putin world while simultaneously doing nothing to criticize the President or speed the arrival of his successor.
This restriction is easily understood in private meetings with political and business leaders. It will SEVERELY limit your interactions with media.
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