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Former FBI Agent Pleads Innocent to Espionage Charges
Former US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent Robert Hanssen pleaded not guilty to charges of spying for Moscow.
Hanssen, appearing briefly at his arraignment at U.S. District Court in Virginia on Thursday, said he was "not guilty" when asked how he would plead.
Hanssen was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit espionage, 19 counts of espionage, and one count of attempted espionage. If convicted, he could be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.
"We will be filing motions in federal court attacking this indictment," said his lawyer Plato Cacheris.
The arraignment came after lawyers for Hanssen and the government reportedly failed to negotiate a plea. A trial was scheduled for June 1.
Hanssen, 57, was arrested in February while allegedly delivering a package of classified material for pickup by his Russian handlers in a park in Virginia.
As an FBI counter-intelligence agent for 25 years, Hanssen is accused of selling secrets to Moscow for 1.4 million U.S. dollars in cash and diamonds during a period of 15 years starting from 1985.
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