STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT
REGARDING THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON THE ROBERT HANSSEN CASE

Attorney General John Ashcroft today released the following statement regarding the Inspector General’s report on Robert Hanssen:

“After a lengthy and thorough investigation of the Robert Hanssen case, the Inspector General has made important recommendations to improve the FBI’s ability to protect national security information from espionage.”

“In the past two and a half years since Robert Hanssen was arrested, under the outstanding leadership of FBI Director Bob Mueller, the FBI has reformed and refined its capabilities to detect and deter those who would betray the United States and endanger the lives of the American people. The FBI has already implemented many new measures, including the creation of a special Counterespionage Section to protect critical national security information, and a Penetration Unit to uncover those who would steal and sell our national security secrets to foreign agents.”

“I thank Inspector General Glenn Fine and his staff for their hard work in preparing this report. I congratulate Director Mueller and the FBI for taking the necessary steps to improve and move forward in its mission to protect America.”

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