He was also tasked with observing and learning as much as he could about Hanssens information technology setup in his office and with keeping an eye out on who Hanssen was meeting and talking with. 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. robert hanssen childrenjennifer nicholson mark norfleet 27 februari, 2023 . His father was a supernumerary part of the 75% while his uncle was a numerary, part of the 25% that swore to a life of poverty and chastity. In one letter to his Russian handlers, Hanssen complains about lost opportunities to alert them that the FBI had discovered the microphone hidden at the State Department, known then by the FBI but apparently not by Hanssen as being monitored by a Russian intelligence officer. The Spy Who Loved Spying A good spy needs a good cover, and Hanssen had one of the best. 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. At the end of the Cold War, Hanssen sold classified secrets to the Soviet and Russian intelligence services. After Bonnie Hanssen confronted her husband, he told her that he had been in contact with his Soviet intelligence counterparts only as a ploy to trick them with disinformation, the attorney said. Director Louis Freeh discusses the arrest of veteran FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen on spy charges. 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. 's investigation of Mr. Hanssen, the former F.B.I. This is particularly timely as we move to the next generation of automation to support the FBIs information infrastructure. On the drive back, ONeill tried to play it cool even though he was riddled with fear that Hanssens car would not be at the office when they returned. Even without knowing who he was or where he worked, Hanssens value to the Russians was clear both by the substantial sums of money paid and the prestigious awards given to their own agents for Hanssens operation. He could sit in his office and shut the door. They drove to New Rochelle to meet with the Rev. He also independently disclosed the identity of two KGB officials who, first compromised by Aldrich Ames, had been recruited by the U.S. Government to serve as agents in place at the Soviet Embassy in Washington. In about 1985, after they had moved back to Washington and Mr. Hanssen was working at F.B.I. In his communications with the Russians (some of which were eventually made public after his arrest) he insisted on setting the terms of how he would communicate, pass information, and pick up money. 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. Authorities say Hanssen was driven by greed, but Brookner rejected that assertion. I dont think there was anybody more shocked by all this, Brookner said. appreciated. Alleman tasked him with purloining Hanssens PalmPilot. He wanted to interview Hanssen for the book but was refused. A few years later, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and had two children. Full Name: Robert Phillip Hanssen Known For: Worked as a mole for Russian spy agencies while serving as an FBI counterintelligence agent. In fact, he had already betrayed one of the United States' most important agents: Gen. Dmitri Polyakov of the G.R.U. 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. ONeill rushed everything he found to Alleman, who had all of it copied, and then quickly returned the contents to Hanssens bag. I imagined I could smell gunpowder on his breath, ONeill writes. Anyone can read what you share. I intend to act swiftly on his recommendations. 1979 - Begins spying for the Soviet Union. 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. In hindsight, serial killers often have traits in common and show signs of their adult inclinations as children. He then applied and was accepted into the FBI. 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. 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. He looked the quintessential suburban dad, devoted to his wife and six kids, working a government job to. He visited an office of the Russian government's trading company and offered to spy. Gallagher also told Hanssen that then-Director Louis Freeh had approved a two-year extension on his service and a promotion to the Senior Executive Service. ONeill quickly replaced the items and ran out of the office. In January 2001, Hanssen moved into a small office in FBI Headquarters secretly outfitted with surveillance cameras and microphones. had too readily accepted Mrs. Hanssen's version of events. 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. Its difficult, but its better than seeing him put to death.. 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. 40K views 2 years ago On this day February 18, 2001, Robert Hanssen was arrested and charged with committing espionage on behalf of the intelligence services of the former Soviet Union. Why are we still having these debates? But the government could not prove he had lied, and wishing to avoid a public trial, the government chose not to void his plea agreement. Why is it so important to take [that] car? Hanssen demanded to know. Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo McNamara, Robert. The Robert Hanssen Story" was released in 2002. He happens to be Catholic. In his new book, Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose Americas First Cyber Spy (Crown), ONeill tells his story of risking his life in 2001 to bring down the operative. Robert Philip Hanssen, a 27 year veteran of the FBI, was a double agent. Father Bucciarelli came up with a plan to save Mr. Hanssen from prison, Mrs. Hanssen told investigators during the polygraph test, her lawyer said. As difficult as this moment is for the FBI and for the country, I am immensely proud of the men and women who conducted this investigation. 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. '', See the article in its original context from. He lobbied his Russian masters to buy him a newer PalmPilot, with wireless Internet capabilities, which would allow the rapid transmission of encrypted messages. Nor would many other intelligence and counterintelligence accomplishments that routinely but quietly contribute to the security of this Nation. Bonnie Hanssen said Hanssen's family "was never the beneficiary" of any spy money and that Bonnie Hanssen has no idea what happened to the proceeds from his spying, including $800,000 that authorities say the Russians deposited for him in a Moscow bank."We don't know at this point what happened to that money," she said. Read more Print length 352 pages He betrayed his God. It is alleged that Hanssen provided to the former Soviet Union and subsequently to Russia substantial volumes of highly classified information that he acquired during the course of his job responsibilities in counterintelligence. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 Hanssen became much more wary. There is insanity in all the answers.. Before her May 7 polygraph test began, Justice Department investigators read Mrs. Hanssen her Miranda rights, her Washington lawyer, Janine Brookner, said. As an agency, we lived up to our responsibility, regardless of how painful it might be. His target would be Robert Hanssen, a 25-year FBI veteran that the bureau suspected might be the most treacherous and damaging double agent in US history. One might propose that I am either insanely brave or quite insane. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of espionage plus two related counts and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Hanssen wanted to be posted to Allenwood in hopes that he might be visited frequently by his wife Bonnie and their six children. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/robert-hanssen-4587832. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The Robert Hanssen Story" was released in 2002. His troubles with the law continued in Anchorage as well. (2020, August 28). Discovery Company. Opus Dei and Hanssen: Masters of Paradox . The crimes alleged are an affront not only to his fellow FBI employees but to the American people, not to mention the pain and suffering he has brought upon his family. The Justice Department's inspector general has been examining the F.B.I. ONeills next assignment would put him right into the lions den. The investigation that led to these charges is the direct result of the longstanding FBI/CIA efforts, ongoing since the Aldrich Ames case, to identify additional foreign penetrations of the United States Intelligence Community. Robert Hanssen, in full Robert Philip Hanssen, (born April 18, 1944, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.), agent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who was one of the Soviet Union 's and Russia's most valuable double agents and the most damaging spy ever to penetrate the FBI. 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 . Undated file photo released by the FBI February 20, 2001 shows a package recovered at the 'Lewis' drop site containing $50,000 cash allegedly left by Russians for FBI Agent Robert Philip Hanssen. She supports the plea agreement and agrees that the sentence of life in prison without parole, rather than the death penalty, is appropriate in these circumstances.. A former FBI Supervisory Special Agen. Robert Hanssen Ryan Phillippe Eric O'Neill Dennis Haysbert Dean Plesac Laura Linney Kate Burroughs Caroline Dhavernas Juliana O'Neill Gary Cole Rich Garces Kathleen Quinlan Bonnie Hanssen Bruce Davison John O'Neill Jonathan Watton Geddes Tom Barnett Jim Olsen Jonathan Potts D.I.A. To get the ball rolling, Hanssen was promoted from a desk job at the State Department and ONeill was given a role as Hanssens assistant. He was arrested while in the process of using a dead drop to clandestinely provide numerous classified documents to his Russian handler. Hanssen took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same, but he decided to violate that oath. Darla was an extremely religious woman, and she felt that faith could be his way out. Its the one scrap of power hes kept for himself.. We particularly appreciate the unhesitating leadership and support of Attorney General Ashcroft from the moment he took office. The arrest of Robert Hanssen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of counterespionage represents a major crisis for the US intelligence apparatus. The pension was an important consideration for Hanssen in his plea negotiations, Brookner said. But while agents moved and searched Hanssens car, he unexpectedly cut the meeting short, stalking out and leaving ONeill no time to notify Alleman. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane Education: Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, A.B. . 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. The one thing the father and son would eventually have in common is their interest in hunting. At some point in 1979, Hanssen made a decision to sell American secrets to the Soviets. After graduating from a public high school, Hanssen attended Knox College in Illinois, studying chemistry and Russian. December 2000 - The FBI begins surveillance of Hanssen. Stahl reports that Hanssen invited his best friend to watch him. 42-67.) But while the FBI could have arrested Hanssen on the spot, they would have had him only on a conspiracy charge. But Brookner said Hanssens family was never the beneficiary of any spy money and that Bonnie Hanssen has no idea what happened to the proceeds from his spying, including $800,000 that authorities say the Russians deposited for him in a Moscow bank. He worked as a policeman in Chicago for three years and was placed on an elite unit that investigated corruption. 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. He betrayed his wife. He wrote to them anonymously. Their actions represent counterintelligence at its very best and under the most difficult and sensitive of circumstances. None of the internal information or personnel security measures in place alerted those charged with internal security to his activities. I said, No way we are taking your beat-up, boring, outdated old Ford Taurus to the DIA. Although his name was not specifically mentioned, evidence in the file pointed to Hanssen, who was put under close surveillance. Bonnie Hanssens first public statements on the case reveal both her anxiety over her husbands actions and her sense of relief over the fact that she and her six children will retain an estimated $39,000 a year from his government pension. Alleman explained to ONeill that the smoking gun would be an actual information drop for the Russians. Follow. His father served on the police force in Chicago and was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II when Hanssen was born. He later wrote to his KGB handler, speaking about the severity with which U.S. laws punishes his alleged actions, and acknowledging I know far better than most what minefields are laid and the risks.. Spy's Wife Speaks, After Taking a Lie Test, https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/16/us/spy-s-wife-speaks-after-taking-a-lie-test.html. I take solace and satisfaction, however, that the FBI succeeded in this investigation. Robert Hanssen is accused of spying for the Soviet Union and is awaiting trial. I left that memo in your inbox, ONeill replied. His job was to help assemble a database of foreign officials posted in New York who, while posing as diplomats, were actually intelligence officers spying on the United States. In 1985 he approached the Soviets again and offered valuable secrets. 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. Robert Hanssen moments after being arrested. Id say insanely loyal, Hanssen wrote. February 18, 2001 - Is arrested in a Virginia park after making a drop of classified documents. Hes also a sign of Mexicos healthcare crisis, Black residents of Jackson, Miss., blast plans by white-dominated Legislature for more state control, Spain approves menstrual leave, teen abortion and trans laws. He pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage in July 2001 and was sentenced to prison without the possibility of parole. Id answer neither. He was arrested in 2001 and sentenced to life without parole in federal prison in 2002 Born: April 14, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois Education: Knox College and Northwestern University, where he received an MBA Although Robert Hanssen forfeited all the money he received from Moscow, his wife and six children get to keep their Vienna, Va., home and three cars, under the plea agreement. 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