The Notorious Betrayal of Robert Hansen

Robert Hansen, an FBI agent, was America's most infamous spy and operated undetected for over two decades. From 1979 to 2001, he leaked critical national security information to the Russians, leading to the exposure and execution of American assets. His ability to access and steal sensitive documents was due in part to the lack of oversight within the FBI’s counterintelligence efforts. Specifically, Hansen’s betrayal resulted in the arrest of three KGB agents in 1985 and brought grave consequences, demonstrating a catastrophic failure in entrusting those with insider knowledge.