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No deal for accused spy being discussed

Robert Hanssen: His attorney says Justice Department officials "have not raised the issue" of a deal.

From CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The attorney for alleged spy Robert Hanssen told CNN Thursday there is no deal in the works with Justice Department officials.

Attorney Plato Cacheris said, "There are no deals being discussed, no plea bargaining. They have not raised the issue."

Sources have told CNN that at "some point" there will be discussions with Hanssen in an attempt to gain his cooperation in telling the government what information he gave, allegedly, to the Soviet Union and to the Russians.

IN-DEPTH The case against Robert Hanssen  MESSAGE BOARD Espionage case

The fact that there will be those discussion sources have told CNN, is why the government repeatedly raises the prospect of the death penalty.

These sources say that Hanssen will be needed to give a complete picture of what damage his alleged espionage did to the United States, what material he allegedly turned over to the Soviet Union and Russia.

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Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • FBI Press Room - Press Release - 2000 - Veteran FBI Agent Arrested and Charged with Espionage
Central Intelligence Agency
US Department of State
U.S. Department of Justice
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Russian FSB (former KGB, in Russian)

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