[Joie Chen, Cnn Anchor:] In a turnaround announced today, accused FBI turncoat Robert Hanssen has agreed to plead guilty to spying for Moscow. That means Hanssen will escape the price paid by the agents he betrayed that is death. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has the latest on the FBI spy scandal Kelli.
[Kelli Arena, Cnn Correspondent:] Joie, after weeks of negotiating, a plea agreement has been reached between the accused spy Robert Hanssen and the government. That is according to one of Hanssen's lawyer, Preston Burton. Sources CNN as part of that agreement Hanssen will plead guilty in exchange for life in prison without parole. Those sources also say Hanssen will be required to sit with interviews with the FBI and the CIA so they can determine the extent of his activities.
[Jonathan Turley, George Washington University:] What the government needs is to know how much damage was done. Much of the damage from someone like Hanssen is below the water line. You don't know where the ship is leaking until he shows you. So what the government wants from Hanssen is information, his cooperation, and how bad this got during his period of being a spy.
[Arena:] What's more, a source with knowledge about the case tells CNN, Hanssen's wife, Bonnie, will be allowed to receive some benefits under his government pension. Details of the plea agreement will be made public on Friday at Hanssen's plea hearing. Until then, the agreement remains under seal. For a little bit of background, Hanssen a 25 year FBI veteran has been detained in an undisclosed location since his arrest on February 18. Now the government accuses him of passing U.S. secrets to Moscow for 15 years in exchange for $1.4 million in cash and diamonds Joie.
[Chen:] All right, CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena reporting to us from Washington this afternoon.