U.S.

The Spy Allegations

February 20, 2001 / 5:06 PM EST / CBS/AP

Excerpts of allegations the government made Tuesday against Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent charged with selling secrets to Russia, in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court. (Click here to read the complete affidavit.):

SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION
The results of this investigation to date indicate that there is probable cause to believe that, beginning in 1985 and continuing to the present, Robert Philip Hanssen (hereinafter "Hanssen"), a United States citizen, has conspired with officers and agents of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (hereinafter "USSR" or "Soviet Union") and with its principal successor state, the Russian Federation (hereinafter "Russia") to commit espionage against the United States on behalf of a foreign government, specifically the Soviet Union or Russia, and has in fact engaged in such espionage.

The evidence establishes that between 1985 and the present, Hanssen who the KGB/SVR referred to as "B" has engaged in the following conduct in violation of (federal laws) 18 U.S.C. 794 (a) and (c):

(a) He compromised numerous human sources of the United States Intelligence Community. Three of these sources were compromised by both Hanssen and former CIA officer Aldrich Ames, resulting in their arrest, imprisonment and, as to two individuals, execution. Hanssen compromised these three individuals expressly in order to enhance his own security and enable him to continue spying against the United States.

(b) He compromised dozens of United States Government classified documents, including documents concerning the National MASINT (Measurement and Signature Intelligence) Program (classified TOP SECRET/SCI), the United States Double Agent Program (classified SECRET), the FBI Double Agent Program (classified TOP SECRET), the United States Intelligence Community's Comprehensive Compendium of Future Intelligence Requirements (classified TOP SECRET), a study concerning KGB recruitment operations against the CIA (classified SECRET), an assessment of the KGB's effort to gather information concerning certain United States nuclear programs (classified TOP SECRET), a CIA analysis of the KGB's First Chief Directorate (classified SECRET), a highly classified and tightly restricted analysis of the foreign threat to a specific named highly compartmented classified United States Government program (classified TOP SECRET/SCI), and other classified documents of exceptional sensitivity.

(c) He compromised United States Intelligence Community technical operations of extraordinary importance and value. This included specific electronic surveillance and monitoring techniques and precise targets of the United States Intelligence Community. In one case, he compromised an entire technical program of enormous value, expense and importance to the United States Government. In several other cases, he compromise the United States Intelligence Community's specific communications intelligence capabilities, as well as several specific targets.

(d) He compromised numerous FBI counterintelligence investigative techniques, sources, methods and operations, and FBI operational practices and activities targeted against the KGB/SVR. He also advised the KGB/SVR as to specific methods of operation that were secure from FBI surveillance and warned the KGB/SVR as to certain methods of operation which were subject to FBI surveillance.

The Charges

Read the complete affidavit listing alleged acts of espionage by the veteran FBI agent.

(e) He disclosed to the KGB the FBI's secret investigation of Felix Bloch, a Foreign Service Officer, for espionage, which led the KGB to warn Bloch that he was under investigation, and completely compromise the investigation.

(f) Hanssen's conspiratorial activities continue to the present. Hanssen continues to monitor a particular SVR signal site, doing so on numerous occasions in December 2000, January 2001 and February 2001. A recent search of Hanssen's personal vehicle, pursuant to court authorization, disclosed a number of classified secret documents, entries in a personal journal concerning matters relating to the instant investigation, and items typically used to mark signal sites. It has also been determined that Hanssen continues to attempt to ascertain whether he has become the subject of FBI investigative interest, including checking FBI records to determine whether there have been recent entries as to his own name, his home address or the signal site.

(g) Over the course of Hanssen's espionage activities, he communicated on numerous occasions with KGB/SVR personnel. This Affidavit cites 27 letters he sent to the KGB/SVR, and it describes 33 packages the KGB/SVR left for Hanssen at secret locations, and 22 packages Hanssen left for the KGB/SVR at secret locations. The Affidavit also describes two telephone conversations Hanssen had with KGB personnel. The Affidavit describes 26 computer diskettes that Hanssen passed to the KGB/SVR, containing additional disclosures of information, and 12 diskettes that the KGB/SVR passed to "B." Hanssen provided the KGB/SVR more than 6,000 pages of documentary material.

(h) For his services to the KGB/SVR, Hanssen ws paid over $600,000 in cash and diamonds. In addition, the KGB/SVR placed funds in escrow in a Moscow bank on Hanssen's behalf. Some time in the last two years, the KGB/SVR informed Hanssen that the escrowed funds are now worth at least $800,000.