Ex-FBI agent admits he spied for Russia

A former FBI agent pleaded guilty Friday to years of spying. Robert Hanssen entered the plea in a packed, high-security courtroom in Virginia.

Hanssen pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage and one count of conspiracy to commit espionage after reaching a deal with prosecutors who dropped their bid to seek the death penalty in the case.

In exchange for freedom from the death penalty, Hanssen agreed to co-operate fully with U.S.government investigators on just what he disclosed to the Russians.

Believed to be one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history, Hanssen is accused of selling information related to satellites, early warning systems, U.S. means of defence or retaliation against large-scale nuclear attacks, communications intelligence and defence strategy.

Hanssen's lawyer, Plato Cacheris, told reporters his client feels remorse and wants to make amends for his actions.

Hanssen was an FBI agent for 25 years. He sold secrets to Moscow over 15 of those years and pocketed $1.4 million US in money and diamonds.

He was arrested in February after allegedly dropping off a bundle of classified material at a site near his home in a suburban Virginia park to be picked up by his Russian handlers.