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 Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole." Since becoming Director over seven years ago, I have administered the FBI oath to each graduating class of Special Agents at the FBI Academy. As an agency, we lived up to our responsibility, regardless of how painful it might be. 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. 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 . McNamara, Robert. 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. He was arrested while in the process of using a dead drop to clandestinely provide numerous classified documents to his Russian handler. Darla, who had a masters degree in Education, would earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids. I slammed the door behind me and slid to a halt in Hanssens office.. 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. They have committed their lives to public service and to upholding the high standards of the FBI. He betrayed his wife. They bought a modest, three-bedroom home in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., north of New York City. 2023 Cable News Network. Agents find a bag nearby containing $50,000 that they believe is Hanssens payment for the documents. Hanssen received payments of $1.4 million in cash and diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia. I told him I thought it was insane.''. Minutes later, ONeill extracted it from the mans bag, along with a floppy disc and a flash drive, running everything downstairs for a tech team to copy. Intelligence. This story has been shared 106,031 times. As Hanssen walked back to his car, the arrest team rushed up and took him into custody. He pled. He visited an office of the Russian government's trading company and offered to spy. ''Most of the people who think ill of me don't know me. Hanssen, in full blowhard mode, got back in the car and the two took the slow route as he lectured ONeill. Robert Hanssen, FBI Agent Who Became a Soviet Mole. He was Amazon.com's first-ever history editor and has bylines in New York, the Chicago Tribune, and other national outlets. 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 short, the trusted insider betrayed his trust without detection. The complaint alleges that Hanssen conspired to and did commit espionage for Russia and the former Soviet Union. But while the FBI could have arrested Hanssen on the spot, they would have had him only on a conspiracy charge. Now 74, he is serving time at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Colorado. On this day in history (February 18), one of the most famous and damaging insiders within the FBI, Robert Philip Hanssen was arrested. Hanssen was suspected of leaking critical US intelligence. A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of the FBI and Robert Hanssen, America's Most Damaging Russian Spy, Lis Wiehl (Pegasus, 2022), 336 pages. robert hanssen children. Opus Dei and Hanssen: Masters of Paradox . An official website of the United States government. 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. Accused FBI spy Hanssen cuts deal. Make him angry. Robert Hanssen betrayed the FBI. Yet Brookner said Bonnie Hanssen has no intention of divorcing her husband. The FBI entrusted him with some of the most sensitive secrets of the United States Government and instead of being humbled by this honor, Hanssen has allegedly abused and betrayed that trust. Warmer storms could cause problems, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a jungle and Maya ruins, Dr. Simi is a TikTok star. In 1985 he approached the Soviets again and offered valuable secrets. Senior FBI officials described him as . On Feb. 18, 2001, Hanssen left a package presumably full of classified documents wrapped in trash bags underneath a bridge in Foxstone Park, then placed a piece of tape at a nearby location, indicating the drop had been made. Anyone can read what you share. Hanssen lived in suburban Virginia, was married, and had six children; he was a devout Catholic who went to Mass every week, sometimes every day. You can call me sir, or boss, Hanssen said. He reportedly told his supervisors in 1990 that he suspected that Robert Hanssen was a spy after his own wife told him that, during a visit to the Hanssen home, Mrs. Hanssen told her she had become alarmed after discovering $5,000. They were finishing just as Hanssen texted that he was on his way back. His most notorious attack was when he planted three pipe bombs filled with nails in the main square of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, killing 44-year-old Alice Hawthorne, causing a fatal heart attack for 40-year-old Melih Uzunyol, and injuring over a hundred others. 1981 - Is assigned to the Intelligence Division at FBI headquarters in DC. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. After being released, he met his second wife, Darla Henrichsen, and the pair got married in 1963. 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. Hanssen gave them the name of a Russian general, Dimitri Polyakov, who had been providing information to the Americans. In this assignment, however, Hanssen did continue to have access to sensitive FBI information as he remained assigned to the FBIs National Security Division and routinely dealt with sensitive and classified matters. 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. When these two KGB officials returned to Moscow, they were tried and convicted on espionage charges and executed. But dont be fooled by that appearance. Serial killer Robert Hansen confessed to killing 17 women in Alaska over a 12-year span, all while married with two children. Authors Lawrence Schiller and Norman Mailer at the Omni Hotel, where they spoke about their new book "Into the Mirror . 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. 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 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. When the news media reported that alleged spy Robert Hanssen was a member of Opus Dei back in 2001, many wondered how Hanssen could provide sensitive information to communists, when Opus Dei has always seemed to be so vehemently opposed to communism. Robert Phillip Hanssen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 18, 1944. The bureau had not asked her to take a polygraph test after her husband's arrest in February 2001. She sold their house and bakery in Alaska and shifted closer to her family in Arkansas after the children were getting bullied massively at their school. 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. Id say insanely loyal, Hanssen wrote. In May 2002, Hanssen was sentenced to life in prison. But Hanssen couldn't afford the lifestyle that he thought he deserved. 42-67.) Hanssen, a 56-year-old counterintelligence specialist, was in the process of giving information to his Russian contacts in exchange for $50,000 in cash, FBI Director Louis Freeh said today. We particularly appreciate the unhesitating leadership and support of Attorney General Ashcroft from the moment he took office. 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. The data-some 6000 pages of highly classified documents-revealed . Apparently, even though Hansen was naturally a left-handed person, he was always forced to use his right hand, making his speech problems worse. Thanks for contacting us. 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. During his 15 years as an alleged Russian mole, Robert Hanssen had access to many vital . agent in Chicago. Blood rushed to my face. Days later, ONeill helped devise another plan to get Hanssen out of the office: Two senior officers dropped in unexpectedly and said they wanted to go to the shooting practice range with Hanssen during lunch. He pleaded guilty to 13 counts of espionage plus two related counts and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Christopher Burgess / Feb 18, 2021. Its amazing to live with a man for all those years and not know him.. At work, he often spoke of his religious faith and conservative values, traits which helped him avoid any suspicion during the years that he was in secret communication with Russian spies. 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. For a time he planned to become a dentist, but eventually wound up obtaining an MBA and becoming an accountant. The Hanssens are active members of Opus Dei, a conservative Catholic group. The next day he ordered ONeill to drive him to a meeting. Judge Webster and anyone he selects to assist him will have complete access and whatever resources are necessary to complete this task. 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. July 6, 2001 - Pleads guilty to 15 counts of espionage and conspiracy in exchange for the government not seeking the death penalty. 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. Although his name was not specifically mentioned, evidence in the file pointed to Hanssen, who was put under close surveillance. The Justice Department's inspector general has been examining the F.B.I. 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.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. While Darla suspected that he had been frequenting prostitutes, she had no idea of the literal manhunt he conducted. One day, she said, she found her husband scurrying to cover up some papers in the basement of their home in Scarsdale, N.Y. 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