Russian national Maria Butina, 29, is at the forefront of an FBI investigation involving President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin, but the crux of the matter isn’t Butina. It’s the National Rifle Association (NRA).

The NRA admitted to accepting financial contributions from 23 Russian donors since 2015.

Kremlin-linked Alexander Torshin, a top-level bank official, has been an NRA “life member” since 2012. He was specifically listed among the donors.

What You Need to Know About the Supposed Russian Spy that Allegedly Infiltrated the NRA If you've not heard of Maria Butina yet, here's what you need to know about the woman who's been arrested and accused of being part Russia's efforts to influence our election. (via NowThis Politics) Posted by MoveOn on Thursday, July 19, 2018

According to an FBI affidavit, Butina first traveled to the U.S. in 2014 while operating as a “covert Russian agent” under the supervision of Torshin.

Federal prosecutors said Butina “advanced the interests of the Russian Federation” by infiltrating GOP supported groups, including the NRA.

The affidavit showed Butina offered sex in exchange for advancement opportunities to further her mission.

On Wednesday, Senate Intelligence Committee leaders confirmed their agreement with the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 Trump outcome.

“The Russian effort was extensive, sophisticated, and ordered by President Putin himself for the purpose of helping Donald Trump and hurting Hillary Clinton,” said the committee’s vice chairman, Sen. Mark Warner.

Moreover, this video dating back to 2013 shows a direct link between NRA President David Keene and Butin’s group in Moscow.

Mother Jones investigated the GOP’s involvement with the NRA and discovered that the organization invited Torshin to speak at five consecutive conventions.

“Gay, No Way” NRA

The most direct way to the NRA’s heart is through its britches.

NRA Board Member Ken Blackwell regularly displays his disdain for the LGBTQ community.

“If love and commitment make a marriage, why cannot brothers and sisters marry? Or fathers and daughters? What the District [of Columbia] Council has done [in legalizing gay marriage] is to open the door to polygamy, to incest,” he wrote in the Patriot Post.

U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK), NRA Board Member, once ruminated on the subject of art and humanity as they pertained to the gay community.

“[The National Endowment for the Arts has funded] photographs of things that are absolutely ridiculous, people doing offensive things, butt-fucking,” he said. “You think that’s art?”

There’s always Hillary Clinton to fall back on when looking for a way to connect GOP supporters to the NRA.

Russia continues to say they had nothing to do with Meddling in our Election! Where is the DNC Server, and why didn’t Shady James Comey and the now disgraced FBI agents take and closely examine it? Why isn’t Hillary/Russia being looked at? So many questions, so much corruption! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 28, 2018

"Speaking of politicians who won't go away, here comes Hillary Clinton again… I'm not convinced she's not running again in 2020." —@dbongino #NRA pic.twitter.com/YQrXtqyIbN — NRATV (@NRATV) July 18, 2018

Basically, in 2016, @HillaryClinton was the only US Presidential Candidate who wasn't tied to Russia interferring with our election or connected to the @GOP, @NRA or @RealDonaldTrump committing treason against the USA. — Fresh Brew (@TheFreshBrew) July 20, 2018