Hanssen allegedly began spying for the Soviets in 1985 when, in his first letter to the KGB, he volunteered information that compromised several sensitive techniques. During his sessions with investigators, Hanssen claimed his motivation had always been financial. Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, and was eventually arrested as a spy and executed in 1988. But she was questioned in the polygraph test on her knowledge of Mr. Hanssen's later spying career. Assistant Eric O'Neill (right) tells in his new book how he helped. One notable example was the information that the Americans had dug a tunnel under the Russian embassy in Washington to install sophisticated listening devices. The test lasted several hours. A Warner Bros. But Thursday, Bonnie Hanssen issued a statement through her attorney revealing the torment that the case has caused. 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. A TV movie called Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story was released in 2002. His tale was also made into the 2007 movie Breach.. So ONeill was torn when he got his next assignment: Wed like you to make [Hanssen] angry, Alleman said, hoping the suspected operatives reaction would deepen the psychological profile of him. He was sentenced to life in prison. He visited an office of the Russian government's trading company and offered to spy. An FBI arrest team moved into position at Foxstone Park, a location where Hanssen had been spotted before by FBI surveillance. 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. ONeill quickly replaced the items and ran out of the office. Written by on 27 febrero, 2023. Intelligence officials began debriefing Hanssen this week, defense attorney Preston Burton said Thursday. Its the one scrap of power hes kept for himself.. FBI agents outside Robert Hanssen's home in Virginia, Feb. 20, 2001. In that case, Hanssen would immediately know why no one stole cars from the FBI garage and there was no telling how the almost certainly armed Hanssen would react. As a result of these assignments within the FBI, Hanssen gained access to some of the most sensitive and highly classified information in the United States Government. "She and the children clearly are innocent victims." Advertisement Robert Hanssen, 57, a former FBI counterintelligence agent, pleaded guilty last week to 15 counts of spying for Moscow. They were deported and arrested. By Sherri Day. Apparently, even though Hansen was naturally a left-handed person, he was always forced to use his right hand, making his speech problems worse. "Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole." Russian operatives left signals for Hanssen at Foxstone Park in Vienna, Va. 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. He married Bernadette Wauck in 1968 and, influenced by his devout Catholic wife, he converted to Catholicism. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. What we wanted to do was get enough evidence to convict him, and the ultimate aim was to catch him in the act, said Debra Evans Smith, a former deputy assistant director of the Counterintelligence Division. 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 . He betrayed his God. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. They had two children together and were respected members of the community. In one deadly instance in 1985, the FBI believed Hanssen exposed three KGB agents working for the Americans. The plea bargain spared Hanssen the death penalty. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane Education: Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, A.B. In the letter, Hanssen revealed that he had dreamed of being a spy against his country since the age of 14, after reading a book about Kim Philby the British intelligence officer who was also a Russian double agent. He then applied and was accepted into the FBI. Today, Mrs. Hanssen is teaching at a Catholic school in suburban Virginia and is living in the house she shared with her husband and their six children. Authors Lawrence Schiller and Norman Mailer at the Omni Hotel, where they spoke about their new book "Into the Mirror . Follow. The family hopes Mr. Hanssen will be sent to the federal prison in Allenwood, Pa., which would be close enough for Mrs. Hanssen to continue to visit regularly. Serial killer Robert Hansen confessed to killing 17 women in Alaska over a 12-year span, all while married with two children. Blood rushed to my face. After being released, he met his second wife, Darla Henrichsen, and the pair got married in 1963. ', 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. I said, No way we are taking your beat-up, boring, outdated old Ford Taurus to the DIA. She said she told the bureau the same thing immediately after her husband's arrest last year. He looked the quintessential suburban dad, devoted to his wife and six kids, working a government job to. Born in 1939 to a father who forced him to work long hours at the family bakery while subjecting him to ridicule and mockery and a mother who . Meanwhile, the FBI had discovered medical tape and chalk Hanssens tools for signaling the Russians in the car, along with classified documents that had no business being there. 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. But in 1999, while assigned as an FBI liaison with the State Department, he once again began selling American secrets. I slammed the door behind me and slid to a halt in Hanssens office.. But even as her life regains some sense of normalcy, Bonnie Hanssen struggles to understand the havoc that the last few months have wrought, Brookner said. Marriage: Bernadette Bonnie (Wauck) Hanssen (August 10, 1968-present), Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John Jack, Sue and Jane, Education: Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, A.B. I have hurt so many deeply." Hanssen, who began working with Soviet military intelligence in 1979, was. 1979 - Begins spying for the Soviet Union. Since becoming Director over seven years ago, I have administered the FBI oath to each graduating class of Special Agents at the FBI Academy. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Robert Hanssen is accused of spying for the Soviet Union and is awaiting trial. In the face of worldwide publicity about one of the most damaging espionage breaches in U.S. history, Bonnie Hanssen, 54, has maintained a steadfast silence since her husband of nearly 30 years was arrested in February near their home in suburban Washington. Hanssen, in full blowhard mode, got back in the car and the two took the slow route as he lectured ONeill. 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. Hansen even notched up a few local hunting records. 's New York field office. Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole. This story has been shared 106,031 times. Sometime in the mid-1960s, Robert Hansen got married for the second time. Here was ONeills opportunity to push Hanssen to his limits. Pressed to explain what he was doing, she said, he acknowledged that he was dealing with the Russians. FBI leadership decided Hanssen needed to be removed from his temporary position and brought back to FBI Headquarters. 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. The following year, he married Darla Henrichson, with whom he went on to have two children. agent sentenced to life in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty to spying for Moscow off and on for more than 20 years. The news that he used to literally hunt women and kill them after sexually assaulting them sent shockwaves through the state of Alaska, and on occasion, even beyond its borders. Mrs. Hanssen said she demanded that he repay the $30,000. The couple, however, did not have a great relationship. The tension would not lessen over the next few days, with Hanssen telling ONeill he was a worthless clerk.. 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. As Director of the FBI, I am proud of the courageous men and women of the FBI who each day make enormous sacrifices in serving their country. I always liked writing privately in journals, but writing publicly is new. Suit David Huband Photographer Catherine Burdon Agent Nece She is also challenging some of her husbands credit card bills. Before getting caught in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison, he sold thousands of pages of sensitive material to the Soviet Union and ruined massive U.S. intelligence plans. I imagined I could smell gunpowder on his breath, ONeill writes. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. According to . Hansen even followed in his fathers footsteps and opened up his own bakery. Or, rather, one person does. In order to put the double-crosser away forever, ONeill would need to put his life on the line again. In her statement, Bonnie Hanssen thanked government officials for allowing her to retain the pension and for recognizing that she and the children clearly are innocent victims.. This story has been shared 123,032 times. 2023 Cable News Network. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Now 74, he is serving time at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Colorado. Stahl reports that Hanssen invited his best friend to watch him. You know hes armed and Im not. His assistant, Eric ONeill, was tasked with keeping investigators apprised of Hanssens movements. Is sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Spy tells, for the first time, the full, authoritative story of how FBI agent Robert Hanssen, code name grayday, spied for Russia for twenty-two years in what has been called the "worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history"-and how he was finally caught in an incredible gambit by U.S. McNamara, Robert. That fall, Mr. Hanssen was transferred back to New York as a supervisor in charge of a counterintelligence squad. The bureau had not asked her to take a polygraph test after her husband's arrest in February 2001. I left that memo in your inbox, ONeill replied. 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. Updated Friends of Hanssen later came forward and told journalists that Hanssen had exhibited eccentric behavior, which included an obsession with pornography. Source: Netflix Article continues below advertisement Hanssen refused. The underling had 15 minutes to arrange for a car from the FBI who, this time, didnt blow its shot. A few years later, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and had two children. He was arrested while in the process of using a dead drop to clandestinely provide numerous classified documents to his Russian handler. January 30, 2003 / 4:50 PM / CBS. Heres a look at the life of convicted spy Robert Hanssen. 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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. Robert Hanssen is a former FBI agent who sold highly classified material to Russian intelligence agents for decades before he was finally arrested in 2001. 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. In it he betrayed three Soviet officers who were working for the Central Intelligence Agency and the bureau. They never lived the high life; they never even went out to dinner, she said. Described as. 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. Anything else while were at it? Our joint efforts over the last several years and specifically in this case should give pause to those contemplating betrayal of the Nations trust. Sullivan noted that Hanssen spent a lot of time trolling ACS for information. It is also one which can turn ingenious quickly, like an idiot savant, once convinced of a goal.. [14] She said that her husband is ''doing about as well as can be expected,'' and that ''he is very relieved that I have the pension. But money is. He betrayed his children. Joining the FBI in the height of the Cold War, Robert Hanssen dreamed of the exciting life of a spy. After working in the FBI division that developed secret listening devices, Hanssen was again placed in a position to track Russian agents operating in the United States. 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. Make him angry. 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. 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. (The bureau wanted someone pretty green so as not to arouse suspicion.) Hanssen, 56, was an FBI agent for 25 . 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