ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Intelligence agents begin grilling Aldrich Ames today for details of what officials call the worst espionage case in U.S. history.
Ames, 52, and his wife Rosario, 42, pleaded guilty to spying and tax fraud Thursday.
The 31-year CIA officer got life in jail. His wife's 5-year sentence would come once officials decide he's cooperated fully.
"This is the most damaging spy case in the history of this country," says U.S. Attorney Helen Fahey. Among secrets Ames sold over nine years:
-- The names of every Soviet he knew was working for U.S. agencies. Reward: $ 2 million.
-- Details about U.S. methods used to listen in on foreign and military conversations.
-- How the KGB chief in Britain, codenamed "Tickle," cooperated with the British.
-- How a KGB officer codenamed "Cowl" tipped the CIA on invisible "spydust" used to track U.S. officials in Moscow.
The Ameses forfeited their Arlington, Va., home, two cars and all other assets Thursday. Future profits, including book or movie deals, go to the U.S.
Ames' statement to Judge Claude Hilton called U.S. intelligence "a self-serving sham" and said, "I do not believe our nation's interests have been noticeably damaged by my acts."
A team of investigators - using lie detectors - is to begin debriefing Ames today in an effort to fully assess the damage and hunt for any other moles in U.S. spy agencies.
