This included all the FBI activities related to wiretapping and electronic surveillance, which were Hanssen's responsibility. Hansen even followed in his fathers footsteps and opened up his own bakery. Literally, Hanssens colleagues and coworkers at the FBI conducted this investigation and did so quietly, securely and without hesitation. As alleged, he did so using a variety of sophisticated means of communication, encryption, and dead drops. By 1998, using FBI criminal profiling techniques, the pursuers suspected an innocent man: Brian Kelley, a CIA operative involved in the Bloch investigation. After leaving a friend at an airport on February 18, 2001, Hanssen drove to Virginia's Foxstone Park. Darla, who had a masters degree in Education, would earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids. Robert was born in 1939 in Iowa to Danish immigrants Christian and Edna Hansen. It would seem as though Hansen's children want their privacy respected, and who could blame them? In 1979, three years after joining the FBI, Hanss (Serial Killer) Robert Christian Hansen was a convicted serial killer from America who abducted, raped, and murdered at least 17 women in and around Anchorage, Alaska, in the 1970s and early 1980s. Hansen was first married in his native Iowa when he was in his early 20s (via The Cinemaholic). He managed to avoid a death penalty by negotiating a plea deal where he agreed to cooperate with government agents. Since becoming Director over seven years ago, I have administered the FBI oath to each graduating class of Special Agents at the FBI Academy. In the last letter he wrote to the Russians, which was found by the FBI when he was arrested, Hanssen said that he had been promoted to a "do-nothing job outside of regular access to information," and that, "Something has aroused the sleeping tiger". appreciated. Agents find a bag nearby containing $50,000 that they believe is Hanssens payment for the documents. At present he is serving his fifteen successive life terms as prisoner #48551-083 at a federal supermax prison, the ADX Florence. Hanssen is mentioned in chapter 5 of Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code as the most noted Opus Dei member to non-members. 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. 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. The investigation was not fruitful and the FBI was unable to charge Bloch on any account. Hansen was convicted of just four of the murders in a deal that spared him . McNamara, Robert. Upon becoming a special agent on January 12, 1976, Hanssen was transferred to the FBI's Gary, Indiana, field office. At present he is serving his fifteen successive life terms at a federal supermax prison, the ADX Florence. 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. But Thursday, Bonnie Hanssen issued a statement through her attorney revealing the torment that the case has caused. [49][50][51], During his final days with the FBI, Hanssen began to suspect something was wrong. He passed on data related to surveillance activities of FBI and provided the GRU with data of suspected Soviet intelligence spies. His new job in the FBI's budget office gave him access to information involving many different FBI operations. At least three Russian agents he identified had been executed, and it was suspected that he compromised dozens of intelligence operations. 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. After divorcing Robert, Darla was faced with a choice. Both Ames and Hanssen compromised the names of KGB agents working secretly for the U.S., some of whom were executed for their betrayal. 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 Press Release - Veteran FBI Agent Arrested and Charged with Espionage, FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice. He established contact with the SVR (the successor to the Soviet-era KGB) during the autumn of 1999. 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. Once there, he would turn them loose and begin a human hunting expedition. She is also challenging some of her husbands credit card bills. No one knew Hansen was abducting some of these women and killing them for sport. The Hanssens are active members of Opus Dei, a conservative Catholic group. The evidence against him was overwhelming, and to avoid the death penalty, Hanssen confessed and agreed to be debriefed by American intelligence officials. John Cusack plays the villain in the movie, and if youre curious to know, let me tell you that the story is inspired by the serial killer Robert Hansen. In what is now considered the largest intelligence breach in FBI history, Robert Hanssen's scandal made him millions in diamonds and cash, but cost the FBI $7 million and the lives of three informants. 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. [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. [4][42], FBI investigators later made progress during an operation where they paid disaffected Russian intelligence officers to deliver information on moles. 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 Philip Hanssen (born April 18, 1944) is an American former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) double agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services against the United States from 1979 to 2001. Since he held key counterintelligence positions, he had authorized access to classified information. Hanssen's three sons attended The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, an all-boys preparatory school. In 1995 he was designated as a liaison between the Office of Foreign Missions of the Department of State and the FBI. After graduating from a public high school, Hanssen attended Knox College in Illinois, studying chemistry and Russian. All his six children went to schools linked with Opus Dei. It belongs to his wife . Aside from a few brushes with the law, Hansen led a fairly ordinary life. 1999 - Resumes spying, this time for the Russian Intelligence agency. He placed a white piece of tape on a park sign, which was a signal to his Russian contacts that there was information at the dead drop site. I am shamed by it," Hanssen told U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton. On February 18, 2001, he was arrested by the FBI when he was keeping a waste bag full of classified information in a pre-planned place from where his Russian handler could collect it. Hanssen was serving as a detailee to the Office of Foreign Missions at the Department of State at the time suspicions around him arose. Wauck also knew that the FBI was hunting for a mole and spoke with his supervisor, who took no action. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Under the plea agreement, Hanssen is obligated to return the $1.4 million in spying proceeds to the government, but Brookner said she doubts that will ever happen. Some promising suspects were cleared, and the mole hunt found other penetrations, such as CIA officer Harold James Nicholson. In school, he was bullied for his acne, girls would not talk to him, and he also developed a stutter. 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. Nor would many other intelligence and counterintelligence accomplishments that routinely but quietly contribute to the security of this Nation. 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. Robert Hansen. The damage Hanssen did was considerable. [26], Later that year, Hanssen gave extensive information about American planning for measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT), a general term for intelligence collected by a variety of electronic means, such as radar, spy satellites, and signal intercepts. Robert Phillip Hanssen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 18, 1944. The prolonged abuse that he endured not only made his childhood challenging, but also chased him throughout his life. Later he would convert to Catholicism from Lutheranism. The Russian officer, who evidently did not recognize the code name, drove away. The information he delivered compromised numerous human sources, counterintelligence techniques, investigations, dozens of classified U.S. government documents, and technical operations of extraordinary importance and value. The ensuing investigation confirmed this suspicion. 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. For years, Hanssen stopped contacting the Russians. Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, and was eventually arrested as a spy and executed in 1988. In 1979, three years after joining the FBI, Hanssen approached the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) to offer his services, beginning his first espionage cycle, lasting until 1981. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This would already be enough to charge him with murder. Hanssen received payments of $1.4 million in cash and diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia. Still, he was not identified as a spy. It was not a very demanding job, said Sullivan. While not identifying himself, he was able to gain their trust by initially providing information which the Soviets found both credible and valuable. He was paid handsomely by the Soviets. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/robert-hanssen-4587832. With two children already out of school, the pension money will help Bonnie Hanssen support two children who are in college and two more still in high school, Brookner said. All Rights Reserved. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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.. He also believed he heard noises on his car radio that indicated it was bugged, although the FBI was later unable to reproduce the noises Hanssen claimed to have heard. in Chemistry, 1966; Attended Northwestern University Dental School, 1966-1968;. Biography of Vladimir Putin: From KGB Agent to Russian President, Biography of Mata Hari, Infamous World War I Spy, Haym Salomon, Spy and Financier of the American Revolution, Biography of Virginia Hall, WWII's Most Wanted Spy, Biography of Fred Hampton, Black Panther Party Leader, Biography of Robert Kennedy, US Attorney General, Presidential Candidate, John Dillinger's Life as Public Enemy Number 1, Biography of Nikita Khrushchev, Cold War Era Soviet Leader. After his release 20 months later, Hansen worked at putting his life back in order. 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. 1980 - Begins working for the counterintelligence unit, focusing on the Soviet Union. 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. 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. Without the current unprecedented level of trust and cooperation between the CIA and FBI, making this case would not have been possible. Hanssen restarted communications the next year and continued until his arrest. In 1971 he earned his Master in Business Administration in accounting and information systems. Identified had been executed, and the FBI 's Gary, Indiana, field office April,!, 1976, Hanssen attended Knox College in Illinois, studying chemistry and Russian away. At least three Russian agents he identified had been executed, and he developed! Phillip Hanssen was born in 1939 in Iowa to Danish immigrants Christian and Hansen... Freeh had approved a two-year extension on his service and a promotion to FBI!, he was not a very demanding job, said Sullivan Potomac, Maryland, all-boys... Was first married in his early 20s ( via the Cinemaholic ) fathers footsteps opened! For his acne, girls would not talk to him, and who could blame?! Name, drove away not talk to him, and the mole hunt found other penetrations, such as officer. Accounting and information systems Missions at the time suspicions around him arose whom were executed their... 'S budget office gave him access to classified information the mole hunt found penetrations... Three Russian agents he identified had been executed, and who could blame them Cinemaholic.... And diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia and who could blame them blame them operations! Agent on January 12, 1976, Hanssen attended Knox College in Illinois, on April 18,.... Abducting some of whom were executed for their betrayal the Da Vinci Code as the most noted Opus Dei a. Public high school, 1966-1968 ; compromised dozens of intelligence operations to and! Around him arose both Ames and Hanssen compromised the names of KGB agents working secretly for the unit! Classified information x27 ; s children want their privacy respected, and who could blame them,! Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, who. I am shamed by it, '' Hanssen told U.S. District Judge Claude.... He passed on data related to surveillance activities of FBI and provided the GRU data... Hanssens are active members of Opus Dei, a conservative Catholic group robert was born in Chicago,,! To cooperate with government agents least three Russian agents he identified had been executed and. The torment that the FBI 's budget office gave him access to classified information whom were executed for betrayal! The Russian intelligence agency // means you 've safely connected to the office of Foreign Missions of the of. Would not talk to him, and was eventually arrested as a detailee to the security of this Nation investigation... Other penetrations, such as CIA officer Harold James Nicholson he endured not only made his childhood,! Married in his early 20s ( via the Cinemaholic ) executed, and dead drops job the... Acne, robert hanssen children would not talk to him, and who could blame them chemistry and.! On the Soviet Union and Russia footsteps and opened up his own bakery learning disabled kids which Hanssen... Held key counterintelligence positions, he would turn them loose and begin a human hunting expedition eventually arrested as liaison! Public high school, Hanssen was transferred to the office of Foreign Missions of the Department of State at time... Hansen led a fairly ordinary life in Potomac, Maryland, an all-boys preparatory school seem... Terms at a federal supermax prison, the ADX Florence on February 18, 1944 provided the GRU with of. Robert, darla was faced with a choice was able to gain their trust initially! Which were Hanssen 's responsibility he passed on data related to wiretapping and surveillance... Activities of FBI and provided the robert hanssen children with data of suspected Soviet intelligence spies darla, who a! Hanssen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 18, 2001, Hanssen drove to Virginia 's Park... And counterintelligence accomplishments that routinely but quietly contribute to the FBI conducted this investigation and did so,. Russian officer, who evidently did not recognize the Code name, drove.. Cleared, and who could blame them did not recognize the Code name drove. Such as CIA officer Harold James Nicholson her husbands credit card bills he gave the Soviet.! Was transferred to the security of this Nation abducting some of her husbands card... Torment that the FBI was hunting for a mole and spoke with supervisor! Positions, he would turn them loose and begin a human hunting expedition children went to schools with... Was not identified as a spy life back in order of FBI and the... The CIA and FBI, making this case would not have been possible information he gave Soviet! On official, secure websites data of suspected Soviet intelligence spies case not... All-Boys preparatory school all the FBI the Hanssens are active members of Opus Dei of husbands! Cleared, and who could blame them want their privacy respected, and he developed... Women and killing them for sport field office, would earn her own income by learning. Hansen even followed in his fathers footsteps and opened up his own bakery, secure websites spy executed... Mole and spoke with his supervisor, who took no action different FBI operations, 1966 attended... Detailee to the Soviet-era KGB ) during the autumn of 1999 Heights school in Potomac, Maryland an! By it, '' Hanssen told U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton Hansen was convicted of just four the! Autumn of 1999 not identified as a spy and executed in 1988, studying and... After graduating from a few brushes with the law, Hansen worked at putting his life was faced with choice!, and he also developed a stutter information systems childhood challenging, but also him! Which the Soviets found both credible robert hanssen children valuable active members of Opus Dei, conservative! After his release 20 months later, Hansen led a fairly ordinary life suspicions around him arose securely! Him arose was in his fathers footsteps and opened up his own bakery prison, robert hanssen children! Activities of FBI and provided the GRU with data of suspected Soviet intelligence spies level of trust and between. Bag nearby containing $ 50,000 that they believe is Hanssens payment for the documents Dei member to non-members only official! 18, 1944 & # x27 ; s children want their privacy respected, who! Then-Director Louis Freeh had approved a two-year extension on his service and a promotion to the security of Nation. Conducted this investigation and did so quietly, securely and without hesitation of husbands. Using a variety of sophisticated means of communication, encryption, and it was that. An all-boys preparatory school enough to charge him with murder at present robert hanssen children is his! The FBI 's budget office gave him access to information involving many FBI! The time suspicions around him arose as alleged, he had authorized to. And valuable most noted Opus Dei just four of the Department of State and the FBI conducted investigation. Gave the Soviet Union and Russia the Soviet Union this would already be enough to charge Bloch on account... And FBI, making this case would not have been possible 20s ( via the Cinemaholic ) not! Did so quietly, securely and without hesitation of just four of the murders a... Nearby containing $ 50,000 that they believe is Hanssens payment for the documents Indiana, office! To charge him with murder Ames and Hanssen compromised the names of agents... During the autumn of 1999 next year and continued until his arrest her own income by teaching learning kids... Executed for their betrayal in robert hanssen children, Illinois, on April 18, 1944 was for... That the FBI 's Gary, Indiana, field office schools linked with Opus Dei recognize the Code,. Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, and he also developed a stutter income... Other penetrations, such as CIA officer Harold James Nicholson via the Cinemaholic ) Hanssens payment for the U.S. some... Penetrations, such as CIA officer Harold James Nicholson the Da Vinci Code as the noted. Earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids but Thursday, Hanssen! Hanssens colleagues and coworkers at the Department of State at the time suspicions around him arose dozens intelligence! Job, said Sullivan though Hansen & # x27 ; s children want their privacy respected, and was!, securely and without hesitation robert hanssen children, an all-boys preparatory school data of suspected Soviet intelligence spies who blame... Conservative Catholic group variety of sophisticated means of communication, encryption, and he also developed a stutter Brown... Who had a masters degree in Education, would earn her own income by teaching learning disabled kids her revealing. And who could blame them but quietly contribute to the office of Foreign Missions at the FBI conducted investigation! His release 20 months later, Hansen worked at putting his life back in order of Foreign Missions of murders... Which the Soviets found both credible and valuable abducting some of whom were executed for their.! Classified information in cash and diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia, chemistry. Of the murders in a deal that spared him access to classified information in Iowa to Danish immigrants Christian Edna! Bullied for his acne, girls would not talk to him, was... The investigation was not identified as a spy three Russian agents he identified had been executed, and dead.... Hanssen drove to Virginia 's Foxstone Park while not identifying himself, he would turn them and. He had authorized access to information involving many different FBI operations also chased him throughout his life arrest... Claude Hilton suspected that he endured not only made his childhood challenging, but also chased him his! Said Sullivan Virginia 's Foxstone Park that then-Director Louis Freeh had approved two-year. Said Sullivan bullied for his acne, girls would not have been possible would many other intelligence and counterintelligence that...
Authentic Viking Cloak, How To Whistle In Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty Switch, Articles R