FBI man 'betrayed double agents'

FBI agents confiscate letters at Mr Hanssen's house

A US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent has been charged with selling American secrets to Moscow during and after the Cold War.

To anyone who would betray [our country's] trust, I warn you, we'll find you and we'll bring you to justice

George W Bush

Robert Philip Hanssen, 56, is accused of betraying three Russian double agents working for the US.

Two of them were subsequently executed, while the third was imprisoned.

Officials said that Mr Hanssen, acting under the code name of Ramon, had been motivated by money and had caused "exceptionally grave" damage to US interests.

President George W Bush said it was "a difficult day for those who love our country".

At a press conference given by the Attorney-General John Ashcroft, FBI Director Louis Freeh and CIA Director George Tenet, a review of all FBI security procedures was announced.

Mr Hanssen faces the death penalty

Mr Ashcroft said: "Every American should know that our nation, our free society is an international target in a very dangerous world."

Mr Hanssen was arrested on Sunday at his home outside Washington, after he allegedly dropped off a package of classified information at a park in northern Virginia.

He is alleged to have made $1.4m in cash and diamonds over 15 years working for the Soviet and Russian secret services.

Damage assessment

Mr Freeh said Mr Hanssen's alleged conduct "represents the most traitorous actions imaginable".

Robert Hanssen

Aged 56, father of six

Code name Ramon

Counter-terrorism expert

Adviser to the State Department

FBI agent for 27 years

Suspected of spying after internal audit

Allegedly disclosed electronic spying methods

He added that the full extent of the damage was not known, but "we believe it was exceptionally grave".

Mr Freeh said former FBI head Judge William Webster would launch a detailed review of the agency's internal security following the arrest.

"There must be more we can do at the FBI to protect ourselves from such an occurrence," Mr Freeh said.

Charges

At a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Mr Hanssen was accused of:

• conspiring to transmit secret material to the Soviet Union and Russia
• passing classified documents to agents for the KGB on 20 March 1989, with the intent of harming the United States
• identifying to the KGB three Russian double agents who were working for the United States.

A hearing was set for 5 March.

Prosecutors say he faces a possible death sentence and could be fined up to $2.8m - twice his alleged personal gain.

They say that his spying began in October 1985 and continued until his arrest.

Mr Hanssen is said to have been first suspected of being a spy for Russia several months ago after an internal intelligence audit revealed the presence of a mole in the FBI.

The US then secretly obtained Russian documents that led them to suspect him.

Plato Cacheris, Hanssen's attorney, said federal authorities "always talk like they have a great case, but we'll see".

Surveillance expert

Mr Hanssen's most recent job has been based at FBI headquarters in Washington.

His previous posts included performing surveillance on Russian Government missions to the US.

He was also involved in advising the State Department about security.

The father of six is said to be only the third FBI agent ever accused of spying.

In 1997, Earl Pitts, who was stationed at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, was sentenced to 27 years in prison after admitting he spied for Moscow during and after the Cold War.

The only other FBI agent ever caught spying was Richard W Miller, a Los Angeles agent who was arrested in 1984 and later sentenced to 20 years in prison.