3/c Leah Balser Word Count: 724 Closer Look into Intelligence: Hanssen Case and the 9/11 Comm. Report HANSSEN CASE The Robert Hanssen case is known as the most damaging case of espionage in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) history. Hanssen, who joined the FBI in January 1976, was found guilty of committing espionage under Russia and the former Soviet Union in February 2001. Throughout his time as a spy since 1985, he provided highly classified national security information to Russia for over a million dollars’ worth of cash. Despite a similar recent case the FBI handled involving Aldrich Ames, another agent providing Russia classified information, the FBI failed to recognize earlier of Hanssen’s espionage involvement due to his experience as a counterintelligence agent. In July 2001, …show more content…
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) established 21 recommendations to ensure the FBI does not have to worry about espionage in the future. These recommendations include a new unit within the Counterespionage Section at FBI Headquarters, routinely incorporating polygraphs into their employees, the ability to reinvestigate someone’s background, and detecting improper computer usage. The Hanssen case helped the FBI realize that espionage was still relevant, despite the end of the Cold War. The FBI changed its expectations and regulations for its employees to avoid future espionage cases, as information that ranges from confidential to top-secret all offer some level of damage to the national security. It is important that the FBI and other agencies recognize the significance of sensitive information, and taking extra protocols from the Bureau will help eliminate the wrong people from gaining intelligence. 9/11 COMM. REPORT The terrorist attacks of 9/11 are known as the worst terrorist attacks in U.S.