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American Morning

Look at Spy Robert Hanssen's Old Haunts

Aired February 19, 2002 - 08:15   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It's been a year now since Robert Hanssen was arrested for spying for the Russians. And after 12 months of interrogation, investigators are learning new and startling information of just how damaging his spying career was to national security in this country.

CNN National Security Correspondent David Ensor took a tour of some of Hanssen's old haunts with some very knowledgeable guides.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The man who U.S. officials say may have done more damage to this country than any other spy spent the anniversary of his arrest in the Alexandria Detention Center. His wife probably visited Robert Hanssen; she always does on Mondays.

On a bus tour retracing the steps of Hanssen's treachery, author David Vise said the convicted spy has been failing lie detector tests during his interrogation about what he gave to the Russians.

DAVID VISE, AUTHOR, "THE BUREAU AND THE MOLE": Hanssen became very upset and he actually punched the polygrapher in the face. And the polygrapher hit him back and they got into a scuffle. And a number of security guards had to come in and separate the two men.

ENSOR: Since the plea bargain promising Hanssen life in prison instead of death depends on his full cooperation, he is apparently taking real risks. Vise also says Osama bin Laden may not be benefiting from secrets that Hanssen gave Moscow about a software system used by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement.

VISE: An individual Russian, not the Russian government, but an individual Russian, according to U.S. intelligence, later sold that software to the al Qaeda terrorist network for $2 million. That software ultimately made its way to Osama bin Laden, and U.S. intelligence believes it facilitated and has facilitated bin Laden's ability to evade monitoring by the United States.

DAVID MAJOR, FMR. FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Bob walks across the street, goes down into this location here and retrieves $50,000. That was his first payment as a spy...

ENSOR: Robert Hanssen's treachery may have started, say former FBI colleagues, because with a family of six children he needed the money. But he soon became addicted to betrayal.

PAUL MOORE, FMR. FBI INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: It's not about the money once he's involved in it. It's about the intrigue and it's about coming out to these things, slipping the package under there. He's actually acting the role of a spy instead of just reading about the spy stuff, which is what we did at FBI headquarters.

ENSOR: Our tour did not include the sites of Hanssen's personal treachery, the strip joint, where he found the stripper on whom he spent $80,000 of the Russians money; or the house where he allowed a friend through a surveillance camera to watch his wife and himself having sex. We were shown the last place Hanssen went to drop off secrets for the Russians one year ago. Little did he know, on this last walk, he was watched by heavily-armed FBI men.

VISE: People wanted to blow his head off, wishing he would go for his weapon. And instead they slapped the cuffs on him and he looks at them and says, "What took you so long?" A question that still haunts the FBI to this very day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENSOR: Those who knew Hanssen say he rigorously divided his life into compartments. As some say, he was truly a tragic figure. And others are arguing that he was, Jack, pure evil.

CAFFERTY: This computer software, David, a quick question. One, is the United States still using this computer software. And, two, what's been done to counter the possible effects of the fact that it may be in al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden's hands as we sit here and talk?

ENSOR: My understanding is it is still using that software, at least in some areas. It's a software that was developed by a company here in Northern Virginia meant to be classified, but it has reached a number of other governments now. So this is a real problem for the U.S. as it tries to track bin Laden. The implication being, as I say, that -- as I said earlier, that bin Laden now has access to that material and knows how to evade at least one top secret method of monitoring his communications.

CAFFERTY: Quick take on another subject. This newspaper story on the proposed office of strategic influence. What's the early reaction to the Pentagon even considering such an idea? It was looked on with some shock and outrage, if you will, by one of the people we talked to earlier as being beyond the lines that this country traditionally tries to stay within in terms with dealing with things like the truth.

ENSOR: Well, obviously, reporters don't like the idea. We're liable to have stories -- false stories -- being planted overseas and come back here and create all kinds of confusion. I can tell you that some of the government are also not too fond of the idea either. My understanding is the matter is not settled yet. There is internal debate about it, Jack. CAFFERTY: Yes, it sounds like it might be more trouble than it's worth, at least on the surface. David, thank you for your time this morning and your input. An interesting report on Hanssen. Talk to you soon. David Anderson -- Ensor, I'm sorry. David Ensor, our National Security Correspondent in Washington.

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