Robert Hanssen

The FBI agent who spied for Moscow for over two decades until 2001

Overview

Robert Hanssen spied for Moscow in spells from 1979 and then continuously from 1985 until his arrest in February 2001, selling some of the most guarded American secrets, including identities of human sources and details of a tunnel program for eavesdropping. His disclosures contributed to the deaths of several Russians working for the United States, including two KGB officers. A Justice Department review called him possibly the most damaging spy in American history. He received life in prison. He spied in part from grievance and in part for money, later profile studies concluded.