In the wake of Donald Trump’s press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday, members of the media mistook a Trump administration staffer for a Russian spy.
Emily Singer, a senior political reporter for Mic, tweeted out a photo from inside the White House and claimed that Maria Butina, who was charged Monday for conspiring against the U.S. as a secret Russian agent, was among a gaggle of staffers inside the Oval Office. She later realized her mistake and deleted the tweet, but only after it went viral.
"Senior Political Reporter" pic.twitter.com/nZZJjfEh6s
— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) July 17, 2018
Tuesday morning, BuzzFeed News cleared up the confusion by clarifying that the red-headed woman mistaken for a Russian spy was likely an National Security Council staffer, per a source from within the NSC.
https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/1019210350867156992
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/1019207585457688576
Breaking news: not all redheads are the same person.
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1019211077572231168
I thought this was a photoshop, but it's not. This is Ivan Drago — the guy who beat Apollo Creed to death — in the Oval Office with Trump. pic.twitter.com/XhuNUuE1fO
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) July 17, 2018
This is Maria Butina — arrested for being a Russian spy — working the front desk of the Oval Office. pic.twitter.com/l6AWtWZbUv
— Alex Muresianu (@ahardtospell) July 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/1019210102962884609
I thought this was a photoshop, but it’s not. This is Maria Butina — arrested for being a Russian spy — winning an Oscar. pic.twitter.com/TfnQPWEEa6
— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) July 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/1019217805122637824
Yo Emily, here’s some info that may be of help.
https://twitter.com/JerryDunleavy/status/1019210875964739584
