CI Centre | Masterspy: The Robert Hanssen Story, a CBS miniseries

The following observations of the Robert P. Hanssen sentencing on Friday, May 10, 2002 are by Lawrence Schiller, the author of Into the Mirror: The Life of Master Spy Robert P. Hanssen and Producer/Director of MASTERSPY

Just a few moments ago I left the U.S. Court of the Eastern District of Virginia where Judge Claude Hilton sentenced Robert Hanssen to life in prison for spying for the Soviet and Russian government over a 22 year period.

Court was called in session just at 9:00 a.m. Every seat in the courtroom was filled with present and former members of the FBI, attorneys from the Justice Department, officials from the Attorney General's office, and some of Hanssen's closest friends. I was surprised to see present in the room so many of Hanssen's former colleagues who had work with him in the past. It was very clear that they attended to make a strong statement about his betrayals.

Jack Horschour, Hanssen closest friend, was sitting in the corner in the fourth row as was Jim Milbourn. Jim was the man who first identified Hanssen as a spy in October of 2000.

While everyone was standing around waiting for court to convene, dressed in dark colored suites and dresses, as if at were a funeral or wake, Hanssen walked into the courtroom from a side door guarded by plain clothes marshals. He was dressed in an oversized green prison jump suit that hung on his body obviously from extreme loss of weight. His hair was now gray, his body even thinner then his three previous court appearances. Under the jump suit that had stenciled on its back, Prisoner, was a long sleeved white shirt that hung loose on his arms.

The government's prosecutor told the Judge that Hanssen had abused the trust of the United States government and the harm he caused to his country and people was at the highest level at a "Number 42". He stated that he had broken all the promises he made during his career as a Special Agent of the FBI and that he had used people's lives as "merchandise" for financial gain.

Plato Cacheris, Hanssen's attorney, then told the court that Hanssen, since July 6, 2001, had spent 75 days and over 200 hours cooperating with the Government in fulfilling his plea bargain agreement.

When the judge asked Hanssen if he had anything to say before he was sentenced, all eyes in the courtroom turned to Hanssen. He did not address the court from his table. Rather he surprised everyone by getting up and walking to the center of the room to make his statement. Holding a white piece of paper in his hands, he trembled only slightly.

Standing in a room of over 100 people, this tall man, dressed in a green prison jumpsuit, finally spoke for the first time in this case.

He first thanked those who have given him support over the last year and the people who have stood by him. He then apologized to his wife and children for the shame he had brought upon them and other members of his family. He said he was sorry for what he had done and felt bad for his wife and children who he deeply loved. He apologized to his friends and colleagues that he knew and worked for. And then quietly he thanked the court.

His statement was devoid of any apology to the FBI, the government, or the people of the United States. Nor did he make any statement to the families of those men who were executed because of his betrayal.

He did not show any remorse for his actions. His statement was more of a personal nature to family, friends, and colleagues.

After he was sentenced for life in prison without the ability for parole by Judge Hilton, he turned around and looking at almost everyone in the courtroom, going from one face to the next. When his eyes passed Paul Moore, who Hanssen worked with and car pooled with at the FBI, he smiled. When he found his friend Jack Horschour, he lifted his handcuffed arms and waved to him. With that wave, he then turned to the Marshals and left the courtroom.

As the courtroom emptied out, Horschour stood alone, transfixed; turning to the wall for a moment before leaving the 8th floor.

The entire session took less then 15 minutes.

It was amazing to see that in those 15 minutes a man's life fade away as it did today.

Lawrence Schiller

Friday, May 10, 2002