Special Agent Don Sullivan, a squad supervisor at the FBIs Washington Field Office at the time, volunteered to replace Hanssen. He quit after one year and joined the Chicago Police Department as an internal affairs investigator, specializing in forensic accounting. Both schools are associated with Opus Dei. [63], According to USA Today, those who knew the Hanssens described them as a close family. A Warner Bros. [15] During his first espionage cycle, Hanssen provided a significant amount of information to the GRU, including details of the FBI's bugging activities and lists of suspected Soviet intelligence agents. By February 2001, about 300 personnel were working the investigation and monitoring Hanssen. Though both Hansen and his wife earned respectable incomes, it would be revealed that it was Darla who was supporting the household. Hanssen would later claim that his goal was simply to make some extra money, as living in New York City was putting a financial squeeze on his growing family. 1981 - Hanssens wife catches him with classified documents and convinces him to stop spying. For a while he was in contact with Priscilla Sue Galey, a stripper in Washington, who received cash, jewelry and other benefits from Hanssen. The FBI's codename for the suspected spy was "Graysuit". The failure of the Bloch investigation and the FBI's investigation of how the KGB learned that they were investigating Bloch caused the mole hunt that eventually resulted in the arrest of Hanssen. For these reasons, the FBI learned of his true identity before the Russians; they are learning of it only now. Since becoming Director over seven years ago, I have administered the FBI oath to each graduating class of Special Agents at the FBI Academy. While their exact whereabouts are unknown to the public, it's suspected that they still live in the Midwest. Updated He was finally arrested in early 2001 from Foxstone Park for trading classified information of the US to the Soviet Union and later to the Russian Federation. [65], A priest at Oakcrest said Hanssen had regularly attended a 6:30a.m. daily Mass for over a decade. Imagine finding out that your husband is a ruthless serial rapist and murderer. Christian owned a bakery and would make his son work for long hours as a kid. Hanssen's wife, Bonnie, retired from teaching theology at Oakcrest in 2020. [54], With the representation of Washington lawyer Plato Cacheris, Hanssen negotiated a plea bargain that enabled him to avoid the death penalty in exchange for cooperating with authorities. After Ames's arrest in 1994, some of these intelligence breaches remained unsolved. The Hanssen case was regarded as a low point for the FBI, especially as Hanssen had been so trusted and had committed such betrayals for so many years. Instead, he ultimately became the most damaging spy in Bureau history. All denied everything. Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, and was eventually arrested as a spy and executed in 1988. [5] His mother was Edna Margret Petersen. In 1978, he and his growing family of three children (and eventually six) relocated to New York City when the FBI transferred him to its field office there. Robert was described as a loner and a quiet person, and he had a strained relationship as well with his strict and dominating father. Because of his experience and training as a counterintelligence agent, Hanssen went undetected for years, although some of his unusual activities had aroused suspicion from time to time. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and to avoid the death penalty, Hanssen confessed and agreed to be debriefed by American intelligence officials. Despite having shown his face, disclosed his code name, and revealed his FBI affiliation, Hanssen escaped arrest when the FBI's investigation into the incident did not advance. On February 18, 2001, Hanssen was arrested and charged with committing espionage on behalf of Russia and the former Soviet Union. 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. He was delegated to probe police officers who were suspected of corruption. The FBI also obtains the complete original KGB dossier on Hanssen. Darla, who had a masters degree in Education, would earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids. Martynov and Motorin were condemned to death and executed via a gunshot to the back of the head. When in 1989 a State Department official, Felix Bloch came under the scrutiny of the FBI, Hanssen soon informed the KGB, who immediately snapped all ties with Bloch. 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, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, Want to solve climate change? 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. Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole. Our joint efforts over the last several years and specifically in this case should give pause to those contemplating betrayal of the Nations trust. Hanssen then began to videotape his sexual encounters secretly and shared the videotapes with Hoschouer. Hanssen ensured that he did not reveal himself with his study, but in addition, he gave the entire studyincluding the list of all Soviets who had contacted the FBI about FBI molesto the KGB in 1988. Intelligence officials began debriefing Hanssen this week, defense attorney Preston Burton said Thursday. [58] Going by the alias "Ramon" or "Ramon Garcia",[59] Hanssen exchanged intelligence and payments through an old-fashioned dead drop system in which he and his KGB handlers left packages in public, unobtrusive places. 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.. Darla was an extremely religious woman, and she felt that faith could be his way out. [68] He also explicitly described the sexual details of his marriage on Internet chat rooms, giving information sufficient for those who knew them to recognize the couple. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The agencies initially focused primarilyand incorrectlyon a veteran CIA case officer, who was investigated for nearly two years. His father, an officer of the Chicago police, often scorned and abused him emotionally. [32] The following year, after the Russian Federation assumed control of the defunct Soviet spy agencies, Hanssen made a risky approach to the GRU, with whom he had not been in contact in ten months. Hanssen warned the KGB that Bloch was being investigated, causing the KGB to end contact with him abruptly. He was tasked with studying all known and rumored penetrations of the FBI to find the man who had betrayed Martynov and Motorin; this meant, in effect, that he was charged with searching for himself. He then followed his usual routine, taking a package consisting of a sealed garbage bag of classified material and taping it to the bottom side of a wooden footbridge over a creek. [6] In the early 1980s, Hanssen was transferred to FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. To his colleagues in the bureau he seemed to be a model agent. December 2000 - The FBI begins surveillance of Hanssen. 1981 - Is assigned to the Intelligence Division at FBI headquarters in DC. Hansen was convicted in 1984 after confessing to killing 17 women, mostly dancers and prostitutes, during a 12-year span. His Russian contacts and Hanssen were highly trained in espionage techniques and were able to work together without ever meeting. 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. [7] On July 6, 2001, he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of espionage, one count of attempted espionage, and one of conspiracy to commit espionage in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. That effort is complemented by substantial FBI proactive investigation of foreign service intelligence officers here and by the critical work done by the CIA. May 31, 2001 - Pleads not guilty to all charges. [73], Eric O'Neill's role in the capture of Robert Hanssen was dramatized in the 2007 movie Breach, in which Chris Cooper played the role of Hanssen and Ryan Phillippe played O'Neill.[74]. [4][31], When the USSR disbanded in December 1991, Hanssen, possibly worried that he could be exposed during the ensuing political upheaval, ended communications with his handlers for a time. His father, Howard, a Chicago police officer, was allegedly emotionally abusive to Hanssen during his childhood. May 16, 2001 - Is indicted on 21 counts of spying for the Soviet Union/Russia and passing top secret material to the Soviet Union/Russia. Later he would convert to Catholicism from Lutheranism. As soon as they let their guard down, Hansen would attack, brutally sexually assaulting them before finally killing them (per Anchorage Daily News). He managed to avoid a death penalty by negotiating a plea deal where he agreed to cooperate with government agents. Kelley instead reported the incident to the FBI. He emerged as one of the most damaging spies to have infiltrated the FBI resulting in probably the worst intelligence disaster in the history of the US. The first time around, his wife divorced him after a mere half-year because of his incarceration for arson in Iowa. May 9, 2002 4:00am. in Chemistry, 1966; Attended Northwestern University Dental School, 1966-1968;. Once there, he would turn them loose and begin a human hunting expedition. Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane Education: Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, A.B. [75], The American Court TV (now TruTV) television series Mugshots released an episode on the Robert Hanssen case titled "Robert Hanssen Hanssen and the KGB".[76]. His bride left him after six months when Hansen was put in prison for setting fire to the local school district's bus barns. 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.) January 12, 2001 - Hanssen is reassigned from counterintelligence to an obscure office at FBI headquarters. After leaving a friend at an airport on February 18, 2001, Hanssen drove to Virginia's Foxstone Park. 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. ThoughtCo. Hanssen later joined the Catholic organization Opus Dei[13] with like-minded individuals. On February 18, 2001, Hanssen was arrested at a park in northern Virginia after he had placed a package at a dead drop location. But in 1999, while assigned as an FBI liaison with the State Department, he once again began selling American secrets. The most significant information that he shared was about Dmitri Polyakov, who while serving the Soviet Army as a General was spying for Americas CIA. Robert J. McNamara is a history expert and former magazine journalist. After the transfer, while on a business visit back to Washington, D.C., he resumed his espionage career. Though the Russians made an official protest, he managed to get away with it as FBIs probe in this matter did not make any progress. "Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole." Hanssen was detailed to the Office of Foreign Missions at the Department of State from 1995 to 2000. Discovery Company. Two fingerprints collected from a trash bag in the file were analyzed and proved to be Hanssen's. The Russians then filed an official protest with the State Department, believing Hanssen to be a triple agent. Once when Bonnie caught his espionage, he made a confession to an Opus Dei priest, donated cash to Catholic charity and gave his word of never spying again. Many of them were agents of the Soviet intelligence agency, the KGB, or its military counterpart, the GRU. Since he held key counterintelligence positions, he had authorized access to classified information. Friends of Hanssen later came forward and told journalists that Hanssen had exhibited eccentric behavior, which included an obsession with pornography. 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. His espionage was described by the Department of Justice as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history." Hanssen is currently serving 15 consecutive life sentences without parole at ADX Florence, a federal supermax prison near Florence, Colorado. When O'Neill could briefly obtain Hanssen's PDA and have agents download and decode its encrypted contents, the FBI had decisive evidence. She is also challenging some of her husbands credit card bills. Sunday night the FBI arrested Robert Philip Hanssen who has been charged with committing espionage. [49][50][51], During his final days with the FBI, Hanssen began to suspect something was wrong. According to her, Hanssen never slept with her. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/robert-hanssen-6997.php. They paid $7 million to KGB agent Alexandr Shcherbakov[43] who had access to a file on "B". In November 1998, they had a man with a foreign accent come to Kelley's door, warn him that the FBI knew he was a spy, and tell him to show up at a Metro station the next day to escape. 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. history. [77] David Wise wrote Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America. The plea bargain allows Bonnie Hanssen to receive about 55% of Hanssens pension, which will total an estimated $39,000 per year. Butcher, Baker: The True Account of an Alaskan Serial Killer. children: Greg Hanssen, Jane Hanssen, John Hanssen, Lisa Hanssen, Mark Hanssen, Sue Hanssen Born Country: United States Spies American Men City: Chicago, Illinois Notable Alumni: Knox College (Illinois) U.S. State: Illinois More Facts Recommended Lists: American People Kellogg School Of Management Male Spies American Spies Aries Men The couple's relationship was fraught, and Darla, who had a master's degree in Education and taught children with learning disabilities, supported herself. He was Amazon.com's first-ever history editor and has bylines in New York, the Chicago Tribune, and other national outlets. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/robert-hanssen-4587832. Hanssen was tracked from the time he left his house in Fairfax County, Virginia, to the time he got home at night, and it was confirmed that he was still an active spy. In 1962 he completed his graduation from William Howard Taft High School. House Belonging To Former Spy Robert Hanssen Won't Sell. Hanssen's superiors were not amused and began an investigation. 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. When told that he would have to take a lie detector test to join, Hanssen changed his mind. Agents find a bag nearby containing $50,000 that they believe is Hanssens payment for the documents. In 1978, Hanssen was transferred to the FBI office in New York City and was assigned to a counterintelligence post. Hanssen disclosed this information to the Soviets in September 1989 and received a $55,000 payment the next month, equivalent to $120,232 in 2021. Hanssen reportedly lavished cash and gifts on a Washington stripper whom he befriended. After a stint of three years he was shifted to the Soviet Analytical Unit that delved in probing, recognising and catching Soviet agents in the US. ", "Eric O'Neill and Billy Ray Discuss 'Breach', "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees: Uproar Over CIA Operative; Iraq Weapons Hunt: Congress to be Briefed", "FBI Spy Robert Hanssen Gets Life Sentence", "Faculty and Staff Directory for Oakcrest School for Girls", Ex-stripper describes her time with accused spy, "MUGSHOTS: ROBERT HANSSEN HANSSEN AND THE KGB", "Smithsonian Channel: It's Brighter Here", FBI application for arrest warrant for Hanssen, "The Movie Breach and Hollywood's Take on Espionage; Peter interviews Eric O'Neill, the FBI investigator who went undercover as Robert Hanssen's clerk during the final months before Hanssen was arrested for espionage", "This FBI Agent Sold Secrets to the KGB for Years", "Curator's Corner: Robert Hanssen - An Inside View with Eric O'Neill", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Hanssen&oldid=1134276656, Ramon Garcia, Jim Baker, G. Robertson, Graysuit, "B", This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 21:42. 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