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American Morning

Hanssen Enters Not Guilty Pleas

Aired May 31, 2001 - 11:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: Still on legal developments now, accused spy Robert Hanssen has entered not guilty pleas to all of the charges against him. Hanssen was arraigned earlier today in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia.

The former FBI agent is accused of spying for the soviet and Russian governments. And his arraignment was incredibly brief and gave no hint of the drama involved in case. CNN Justice correspondent Kelli Arena there was for the arraignment. She joins us now from Washington with the latest -- Kelli, hello again.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Stephen. Veteran FBI agent and accused spy Robert Hanssen pleaded not guilty to every charge in the 21-count indictment against him. It alleges that he sold secrets to the Soviet and Russian governments for 15 years. One of his lawyer, Plato Cacheris, spelled out today's court proceeding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLATO CACHERIS, ATTORNEY FOR ROBERT HANSSEN: We have just set a new modern record for arraignments. I think lapsed time was two minutes.

Mr. Hanssen entered a not guilty plea to all charges today. That not guilty plea entitles him to the presumption of innocence, which will carry throughout this trial.

In due course, we will be filing motions -- some under seal as required by the CIPA Act, some in open court -- attacking this indictment and this case. If anything survives, we'll be back here on the 29th of October for a trial.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Robert Hanssen was pale, somber, and somewhat gaunt. He was dressed in a green jumpsuit with the word prisoner stamped clearly on the back. He kept surveying the courtroom to see who was there.

Now, one family member, his son-in-law, was in attendance. His lawyers say that the rest of his family was there in spirit.

Hanssen has been in federal custody since being arrested in February. The legal proceedings continue as plea negotiations broke down earlier this month. Hanssen lawyers say that is because the government refused to take the death penalty off of the table. Stephen.

FRAZIER: At the Justice Department, Kelli Arena. Kelli, thank you.

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