robert hanssen children
Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. But, she said, she was determined to hold her husband to the deal. Sullivan noted that Hanssen spent a lot of time trolling ACS for information. Hanssen reportedly lavished cash and gifts on a Washington stripper whom he befriended. Who were Robert Hansen's wives and children? His growing family would need space, and Hanssen's vision of himself required that he provide for them while Bonnie managed the home and raised their children. ONeill quickly replaced the items and ran out of the office. They had two children together and were respected members of the community. May 10, 2002 - Is sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. . Nor would many other intelligence and counterintelligence accomplishments that routinely but quietly contribute to the security of this Nation. FBI leadership decided Hanssen needed to be removed from his temporary position and brought back to FBI Headquarters. She said she told the bureau the same thing immediately after her husband's arrest last year. 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. 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. The Department of Justice described his espionage as one of the worst in United States History. Mrs. Hanssen said she demanded that he repay the $30,000. The astonishing letter gave the FBI what it had long sought definitive proof that Hanssen was the spy who had been betraying them since 1985, doing colossal damage to the USs counterintelligence capabilities by, among other things, revealing the identities of their undercover agents. He then applied and was accepted into the FBI. But from the vantage of the media, "happens to be" applies only to Pollard: Hanssen is fast-becoming known as "the Catholic spy.". Children: Lisa, Greg, Mark, John "Jack," Sue and Jane. 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. Our hearts go out to them. He betrayed his wife. As they took him into custody, Hanssen turned to one and said, What took you so long?. 42-67.) 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 began providing the Soviets with highly valuable material. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/robert-hanssen-4587832. Authorities said they are convinced that Bonnie Hanssen--unlike the wives of several other notorious U.S. spies who helped their husbands--was not involved in Hanssens spying. May 10, 2002. In 1985 he approached the Soviets again and offered valuable secrets. "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. She visits her husband in prison regularly. By the time Hanssen and ONeill returned to the office, things seemed normal. He could sit in his office and shut the door. I left that memo in your inbox, ONeill replied. Hansen even followed in his fathers footsteps and opened up his own bakery. agent sentenced to life in prison on Friday after he pleaded guilty to spying for Moscow off and on for more than 20 years. 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. Were you in my office? Hanssen leaned over my desk, his face inches from mine. They bought a modest, three-bedroom home in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., north of New York City. 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. February 18, 2001 - Is arrested in a Virginia park after making a drop of classified documents. 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. Sun, Feb 12, 2023. . He betrayed his children. In court proceedings the government stated that Hanssen had been paid more than $1.4 million during his spying career, most of which he never actually received, as it was held for him in a Russian bank. The information he is alleged to have provided compromised numerous human sources, technical operations, counterintelligence techniques, sources and methods, and investigations, including the Felix Bloch investigation. McNamara, Robert. The answer shocked ONeill, then 26. Anything different goes against biology.. The Robert Hanssen Story" was released in 2002. Two and a half years ago, the FBI arrested Robert Hanssen, a 22-year veteran of the bureau, for selling secrets to Russia. He worked as a policeman in Chicago for three years and was placed on an elite unit that investigated corruption. As a devout Catholic, Bonnie Hanssen feels that he needs time [in prison] to pray for forgiveness and be redeemed in some way, the wifes attorney, Janine Brookner, said in an interview. A feature film called "Breach" was released in 2007. 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. As an agency, we lived up to our responsibility, regardless of how painful it might be. 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. Special Agent Don Sullivan, a squad supervisor at the FBIs Washington Field Office at the time, volunteered to replace Hanssen. 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. 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. Polyakov was carefully watched by the Russians from that point on, and was eventually arrested as a spy and executed in 1988. But dont be fooled by that appearance. 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. (They took Hanssens Ford and the plan to search his car was dropped for the time being.). In short, the trusted insider betrayed his trust without detection. (I have come about as close as I ever want to come to sacrificing myself to help you, and I get silence. 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. While not identifying himself, he was able to gain their trust by initially providing information which the Soviets found both credible and valuable. 2023 Cable News Network. In his office, Hanssen had full access to the FBIs Automated Case Support (ACS) system and the State Departments computer systems. Just then the door buzzed, indicating Hanssens return. Finally, he warned: The US can be errantly likened to a powerfully built but retarded child, potentially dangerous, but young, immature and easily manipulated. The complaint alleges that he received over $600,000. Its difficult, but its better than seeing him put to death.. Hanssen received payments of $1.4 million in cash and diamonds from the information he gave the Soviet Union and Russia. Hanssen had freely expressed his views on marriage before, once telling ONeill: Your genetic code demands that you make money and provide for the family. The criminal conduct alleged represents the most traitorous actions imaginable against a country governed by the Rule of Law. However, even though Hansen would go to church with his wife, nothing really changed. We've received your submission. Hanssen pled guilty to 15 counts of espionage on July 6, 2001. He looked the quintessential suburban dad, devoted to his wife and six kids, working a government job to. The US government took the death penalty off the table in exchange for Hanssens full cooperation. But Thursday, Bonnie Hanssen issued a statement through her attorney revealing the torment that the case has caused. January 12, 2001 - Hanssen is reassigned from counterintelligence to an obscure office at FBI headquarters. Make him angry. His troubles with the law continued in Anchorage as well. ONeills next assignment would put him right into the lions den. She did not want her husband to be tempted to work for the Russians again, she told the Justice Department. The investigation of Hanssen was conducted by the FBI in partnership with the CIA, the Department of State, and, of course, the Justice Department. Now 74, he is serving time at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Colorado. I take solace and satisfaction, however, that the FBI succeeded in this investigation. We believe it was exceptionally grave. 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. I have asked Judge William H. Webster, and he has graciously agreed, to examine thoroughly the internal security functions and procedures of the FBI and recommend improvements. Robert Philip Hanssen, a 27 year veteran of the FBI, was a double agent. 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. In fact, he had already betrayed one of the United States' most important agents: Gen. Dmitri Polyakov of the G.R.U. 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. Full Name: Robert Phillip Hanssen Known For: Worked as a mole for Russian spy agencies while serving as an FBI counterintelligence agent. McNamara, Robert. officer based in Washington. The Hanssens are active members of Opus Dei, a conservative Catholic group. Read more Print length 352 pages Hanssen became alarmed that a Russian with knowledge of his activities would tip off the Americans that a highly placed mole was operating within the FBI and the resultant investigation would lead to him. Updated Classic animal aggression, ONeill writes. .) And there was more than a touch of obvious paranoia: My security concerns have proven reality-based, Hanssen wrote. Is sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. The Robert Hanssen Story" was released in 2002. A few years later, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and had two children. 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. Discovery Company. Robert Hanssen is accused of spying for the Soviet Union and is awaiting trial. In fact, her husband resumed his espionage career. He was enrolled in a "children's club" overseen by the organization when he was seven years old, and it wasn't his first experience with Opus Dei. Its amazing to live with a man for all those years and not know him..