He was sentenced to life in prison. The attorney estimated that Hanssen contributed $10,000 to $20,000 to Mother Teresa in small installments over the years, although the FBI has not been able to verify the payments. In 1976, Robert Hanssen began his career as an FBI agent, but by 1985, he was working for the former Soviet Union, slipping the Russians classified secrets in exchange for more than $1.4 million . Hanssen, a former counterintelligence supervisor for the FBI, pleaded guilty last week to 15 espionage-related charges and admitted that he had sold the Russians thousands of pages of national security secrets in exchange for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds. As it turned out, Hanssen had just been spotted by agents driving at a snails pace past the sign for Foxstone Park in Vienna, Va. The US government took the death penalty off the table in exchange for Hanssens full cooperation. Robert Hanssen is a family man, devout Catholic, career FBI agent, and the most damaging spy in American history. The underling had 15 minutes to arrange for a car from the FBI who, this time, didnt blow its shot. The Spy Who Loved Spying A good spy needs a good cover, and Hanssen had one of the best. A feature film called "Breach" was released in 2007. agent in Chicago. It said Bokhan's son, Alex, 18, was having trouble in military school and suggested the deputy take his vacation now, three months early, and return to the Soviet Union to deal with him. 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Since becoming Director over seven years ago, I have administered the FBI oath to each graduating class of Special Agents at the FBI Academy. ONeill, 46, left the FBI in May 2001. Nor can there be any doubt that he was keenly aware of the gravity of his traitorous actions. 1981 - Is assigned to the Intelligence Division at FBI headquarters in DC. On January 12, 1976, Robert Philip Hanssen swore an oath to enforce the law and protect the nation as a newly minted FBI special agent. "Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole." Hanssen, in full blowhard mode, got back in the car and the two took the slow route as he lectured ONeill. Darla, who had a masters degree in Education, would earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids. Assistant Eric O'Neill (right) tells in his new book how he helped. Hanssen appeared to be a devoted anti-communist. FBI and CIA personnel who debriefed Hanssen about his 21 years as a spy for Moscow found him a prickly, uncooperative character and won't be sorry to see him pulling hard time in a distant lock-up. In January 2001, Hanssen moved into a small office in FBI Headquarters secretly outfitted with surveillance cameras and microphones. After graduating from a public high school, Hanssen attended Knox College in Illinois, studying chemistry and Russian. She next asked ONeill to retrieve Hanssens keys so the FBI could copy them, but his boss kept his keys on him at all times. Russian operatives left signals for Hanssen at Foxstone Park in Vienna, Va. A Warner Bros. The following year, he married Darla Henrichson, with whom he went on to have two children. But, she said, she was determined to hold her husband to the deal. She said she repeatedly questioned her husband to ensure that he was making the payments, and each time he insisted that he was. She visits her husband in prison regularly. Hanssen was arrested on February 18, 2001, at Foxstone Park near his home in Vienna, Virginia, charged with selling American secrets to Russia for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds over a 22-year period. Darla was an extremely religious woman, and she felt that faith could be his way out. Further, the complaint alleges that Hanssen, using his training and experience to protect himself from discovery by the FBI, never met face-to-face with his Russian handlers, never revealed to them his true identity or where he worked, constantly checked FBI records for signs he and the drop sites he was using were being investigated, refused any foreign travel to meet with the Russians, and even declined to accept any trade craft. Hanssen never displayed outward signs that he was receiving large amounts of unexplained cash. Two and a half years ago, the FBI arrested Robert Hanssen, a 22-year veteran of the bureau, for selling secrets to Russia. He became an agent in 1976, and spent two years working in the Indianapolis, Indiana, field office. I never want you in my office again, Hanssen said. Their actions represent counterintelligence at its very best and under the most difficult and sensitive of circumstances. 1980 - Begins working for the counterintelligence unit, focusing on the Soviet Union. McNamara, Robert. He and his wife relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in 1967. . Furthermore, she supported her husband when he was first incarcerated for theft, and then for abducting and sexually abusing a housewife and a prostitute (although the rape charge concerning the latter was dropped when he pleaded guilty.) Clearly she doesnt approve of what hes done, and there was a whole part of this man she doesnt know, but I think with her deep religious convictions, he will, at least in mind and in spirit, continue to be her husband and the father of her children., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Prosecution presents closing arguments in Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Intel agencies say theres no sign adversaries were behind Havana syndrome, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, Yet more rain expected to hit California in March. If he gave the money from the Soviets to charity, and promised not to spy again, he would have the priest's blessing not to report the matter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Imbecile! I said, No way we are taking your beat-up, boring, outdated old Ford Taurus to the DIA. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose Americas First Cyber Spy, My boss records all the conversations in our office, China's secret police are actively hunting people on US soil, Cuomo mocks Biden over China spy balloon debacle, Biden, DOJ scrapping FBI China initiative led to more spying: security experts. For many years, the CIA and FBI have been aggressively engaged in a sustained analytical effort to identify foreign penetrations of the Intelligence Community. I intend to act swiftly on his recommendations. McNamara, Robert. The arrest of Robert Hanssen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of counterespionage represents a major crisis for the US intelligence apparatus. Before her May 7 polygraph test began, Justice Department investigators read Mrs. Hanssen her Miranda rights, her Washington lawyer, Janine Brookner, said. General Polyakov had been spying for the United States since the early 1960's, but soon after Mr. Hanssen told the Russians of this, General Polyakov was forced to retire and was later executed. The information he delivered compromised numerous human sources, counterintelligence techniques, investigations, dozens of classified U.S. government documents, and technical operations of extraordinary importance and value. Sullivan noted that Hanssen spent a lot of time trolling ACS for information. While not identifying himself, he was able to gain their trust by initially providing information which the Soviets found both credible and valuable. (Photo courtesy of FBI/Newsmakers). She said her husband told her he had received about $30,000 from the Soviets -- more than has previously been disclosed -- but he had spent much of it. Mr. Hanssen agreed, and his wife, pregnant with their fourth child, was relieved. Mrs. Hanssen insists she never knew about her husband's second, far longer and more damaging stint as a spy and never saw anything that made her suspect that he had taken up with the Russians again. According to the University of the Free State's "A Psychobiography of Robert Hansen: The 'Butcher Baker,'" Hansen was no different. Christian owned a bakery and would make his son work for long hours as a kid. Hanssen gave them the name of a Russian general, Dimitri Polyakov, who had been providing information to the Americans. Its amazing to live with a man for all those years and not know him.. I left that memo in your inbox, ONeill replied. In fact, when his father passed away, Hansen inherited 17 guns from him as well. John Cusack plays the villain in the movie, and if youre curious to know, let me tell you that the story is inspired by the serial killer Robert Hansen. [14] Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. To get Hanssen back to FBI Headquarters where he could be closely monitored, Neil Gallagher, assistant director of the National Security Division at the time, called Hanssen to inform him of a bogus assignment to serve on his staff as a special assistant for a technology project. Now she says she has chosen to speak out at last because she wants to answer one question she has heard dozens of times: How could Robert P. Hanssen's wife of 34 years not have known he was a spy? Alleman explained to ONeill that the smoking gun would be an actual information drop for the Russians. The past few weeks have uncovered many allegations of FBI agent Robert Hanssen's betrayals: unmasking U.S. agents working in Russia and exposing a multimillion dollar American . The complaint, however, does not allege any compromises by him at the State Department. Today in Security. But Hanssen couldn't afford the lifestyle that he thought he deserved. FBI agents outside Robert Hanssen's home in Virginia, Feb. 20, 2001. Mrs. Hanssen acknowledged in the interview that in about 1980, she discovered that her husband was having unauthorized dealings with the Russians, but said she never knew the extent of his actions. Browse 139 robert hanssen stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. But Mr. Hanssen was not tricking the Russians; he was a Russian spy and had been working for the G.R.U., Soviet military intelligence, since 1979. But in her polygraph test, Mrs. Hanssen denied finding any large and unexplained amounts of money in her home, and the polygraph showed that she was not being deceptive, her lawyer said. As part of that review, the inspector general asked Mrs. Hanssen to take a polygraph test, just days before the sentencing. One might propose that I am either insanely brave or quite insane. Anything else while were at it? Hanssen checked the sign three times that night. The complaint alleges that Hanssen, using the code name Ramon, engaged in espionage by providing highly classified information to the KGB and its successor agency, the SVR, using encrypted communications, dead drops, and other clandestine techniques. Because of these coordinated efforts, the FBI was able to secure original Russian documentation of an American spy who appeared to the FBI to be Hanssen a premise that was soon to be confirmed when Hanssen was identified by the FBI as having clandestinely communicated with Russian intelligence officers. The FBI also obtains the complete original KGB dossier on Hanssen. ', Before I could blink, [Hanssen] had the lapels of my sport coat twisted in his fists and curled me up to eye level, leaving my toes tipping for balance on the floor. On 18 February 2001, Robert Hanssen was arrested and charged with committing espionage on behalf of the intelligence services of the former Soviet Union and its successors. An FBI Agent who raised his right hand and spoke those words over 25 years ago has been charged today with violating that oath in the most egregious and reprehensible manner imaginable. He will report directly to the Attorney General and me and we will share his report with the National Security Council and Congress. "Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole." Its the one scrap of power hes kept for himself.. 1991 - Breaks off relations with the KGB. He betrayed his country. . Today's protagonist, Robert Hanssen, was an FBI agent who served his country for 20 years. They had two children together and were respected members of the community. This story has been shared 123,032 times. WASHINGTON -- Robert Hanssen, the longtime FBI agent accused of passing secrets to Moscow over 15 years, has reached a plea deal enabling him to avoid the death penalty in exchange for cooperating with investigators. But something went wrong and when the two men showed up in the parking garage, the FBI car wasnt there. May 10, 2002. Discovery Company. But in 1999, while assigned as an FBI liaison with the State Department, he once again began selling American secrets. Through Attorney General John Ashcroft, I would like to thank the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. She told Sergeant Flothe (the man who played a pivotal role in Hansens capture) that their income streams were separate and that Hansen would spend the money from the bakery on his own needs. I slammed the door behind me and slid to a halt in Hanssens office.. He betrayed his best friend, offering him up to the KGB. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/robert-hanssen-4587832. ''I never knew about anything else after that first time,'' Mrs. Hanssen said in the interview. By February 2001, about 300 personnel were working the investigation and monitoring Hanssen. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of espionage plus two related counts and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. On January 12, 1976, Robert Philip Hanssen swore an oath to enforce the law and protect the nation as a newly minted FBI special agent. As they took him into custody, Hanssen turned to one and said, What took you so long?. January 12, 2001 - Hanssen is reassigned from counterintelligence to an obscure office at FBI headquarters. We believe it was exceptionally grave. At least three Russian agents he identified had been executed, and it was suspected that he compromised dozens of intelligence operations. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. He was, after all, a trained counterintelligence specialist. NOTE: The following is an excerpt from an article by Lee Penn, "Opus Dei & the Da Vinci Code, part II", published in the Journal of the Spiritual Counterfeits Project [SCP] (Vol. He was arrested while in the process of using a dead drop to clandestinely provide numerous classified documents to his Russian handler. If the device wasnt in Hanssens hand or on the desk in front of him, it was always in his left back pocket. Apparently, even though Hansen was naturally a left-handed person, he was always forced to use his right hand, making his speech problems worse. The answer shocked ONeill, then 26. She said she had none, and the polygraph showed no indication of deception, Ms. Brookner said. In this article, Hansens dynamic with his own family is discussed to give you a better insight into the life of the now-deceased murderer. I have asked Judge William H. Webster, and he has graciously agreed, to examine thoroughly the internal security functions and procedures of the FBI and recommend improvements. Mrs. Hanssen said she demanded that he repay the $30,000. Hanssen had freely expressed his views on marriage before, once telling ONeill: Your genetic code demands that you make money and provide for the family. Hanssenusing the alias Ramon Garcia with his Russian handlershad provided highly classified national security information to the Russians in exchange for more than $1.4 million in cash, bank funds, and diamonds. Here was ONeills opportunity to push Hanssen to his limits. A Justice Department spokesman, citing the inspector general's continuing review of the Hanssen case, refused to comment. Upon becoming a special agent on January 12, 1976, Hanssen was transferred to the FBI's Gary, Indiana, field office. The complaint alleges that he received over $600,000. 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