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Suspected FBI spy Hanssen named in 21-count indictment
14 charges could bring death penalty
MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 16 — Former FBI agent Robert Hanssen was indicted
Wednesday on 21 counts of spying for the Soviet Union and Russia and causing
“grave injury to the security of the United States.” If convicted, he could
get the death penalty.
The indictment alleges that Hanssen ‘betrayed his country for over 15 years
and knowingly caused grave injury to the security of the United States.’
THE FORMER FBI agent is due to appear in court Monday for a
preliminary hearing. His arraignment was scheduled for June 1.
The indictment accuses Hanssen, just the third FBI agent ever accused
of espionage, of one count of conspiracy to commit espionage, 19 counts of
espionage and one count of attempted espionage. The conspiracy count and the
espionage charges carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. Each
charge also carries a potential fine of not more than $250,000 or double what
Hanssen gained from the alleged spying.
Hanssen was arrested Feb. 18 after allegedly dropping off a bundle of
classified material at a suburban Virginia park to be picked up by Russian
handlers, officials say.
Prosecutors charge that the 57-year-old counterintelligence specialist
sold secrets to Moscow over a 15-year period beginning in 1985. Among other
things, that information led to the execution of two Russians who were spying
for the United States, they say.
‘BETRAYED HIS COUNTRY’
Discussing the indictment on the steps of the U.S. Courthouse, U.S.
Attorney Ken Melton said it alleges that Hanssen “betrayed his country for
over 15 years and knowingly caused grave injury to the security of the United
States.”
Hanssen’s lawyers have said Hansen will plead innocent.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Virginia added a few details to the
charges against Hanssen in a press release.
It said that Hanssen is accused of compromising secret materials
including classified details of ”(U.S.) satellites, early warning systems,
means of defense or retaliation against large-scale attack, communications
intelligence and major elements of defense strategy.”
FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen used his decades of experience in espionage
to succeed as a Russian spy, the FBI charges. According to the government's
affidavit, here's how he did it.
Hanssen never revealed his real identity to his Russian handlers, protecting
himself from possible Russian double agents employed as American operatives.
Allegedly, his Russian handlers initially referred to him as "B," but Hanssen
later used the code names "Ramon Garcia," "Jim Baker" and "G. Robertson."
"Dead drop" sites are places where an intelligence officer and his recruited
asset can communicate safely and clandestinely without seeing each other or
being seen face to face. Hanssen and his Russian handlers allegedly
established nine such drop sites, all located under wooden foot bridges in
the parks of northern Virginia. To confirm pickups, Hanssen established a
signal location -- often nearby signposts -- plus a signal code. One vertical
mark of white adhesive tape on a signal location meant that Hanssen was
prepared to make the dropoff and ready to receive payment. A horizontal mark
of white adhesive tape indicated that the Russians had dropped off payment. A
later vertical mark of white adhesive tape indicated that Hanssen had
received payment.
Hanssen’s seniority gave him access to the FBI’s Automated Case Support
System (ACS), a computerized database of investigative files. He allegedly
used the ACS to watch for any possible internal investigation that could
concern him, running keyword searches that included: HANSSEN, DEAD DROP AND
KGB; DEAD DROP AND RUSSIA.
Both Hanssen’s seniority and his position in counterintelligence provided him
with access to information classified as “top secret.” His high-level access
also meant that his behavior was not monitored the way someone at a lower
level might have been. FBI Director Louis Freeh said security measures needed
to be tightened, but added that at some point the bureau has to rely on the
integrity of its senior employees.
An expert in counterintelligence, Hanssen understood that sudden, unexplained
deposits of money into his account could trigger suspicion. Hanssen allegedly
often accepted payment in diamonds, telling his Russian handlers that he
would tell authorities that the diamonds came from his grandmother if they
were ever discoved. In addition, the KGB placed funds in escrow in a Moscow
bank on Hanssen’s behalf.
Source: FBI affidavit
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Printable version
Authorities had previously said in court documents that Hanssen passed
6,000 pages of top-secret documents to Soviet and Russian agents.
The government also raised its estimate of the value of the money,
jewelry and other rewards received by Hanssen to $1,437,000. Authorities had
previously said he received $1.4 million.
PLEA BARGAIN TALKS STALL
Plea-bargain negotiations between the government and Hanssen’s lawyers
stalled Tuesday.
Sources told NBC News that the Justice Department has been pressing
Hanssen’s lawyers to disclose what the veteran counterintelligence agent
would tell them before they would rule out seeking the death penalty.
Hanssen’s legal team refuses to engage in any serious plea agreements
as long as the Justice Department holds out the possibility that prosecutors
might seek capital punishment, the sources said.
Melton refused to comment on the impact the indictment would have on
the plea negotiations.
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“I can’t comment on any plea negotiations or the existence of them
or the status of them,” Melton told reporters a day after Hanssen’s lawyers
confirmed that such talks had stalled.
Hanssen’s lawyers rejected the government’s offer to extend the
discussions for another 30 days. “We felt they had more than enough time to
resolve the issue of the death penalty,” Hanssen lawyer Plato Cacheris said
Tuesday. “We do not think the death penalty is justified.”
Hanssen, an FBI counterintelligence agent and 25-year veteran of the
agency, is accused of passing top-secret information to the Soviet Union —
and later Russia — beginning in 1985.
Hanssen has been held at an undisclosed facility since shortly after
his arrest.
NBC’s Pete Williams and The Associated Press contributed to this
report.
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