secrets

WASHINGTON — CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, who betrayed Western intelligence assets to the Soviet Union and Russia in one of the most damaging intelligence breaches in U.S. history, has died in a Maryland prison. He was 84.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons confirmed Ames died Monday.

Ames, a 31-year CIA veteran, admitted being paid $2.5 million by Moscow for U.S. secrets from 1985 until his arrest in 1994. His disclosures included the identities of 10 Russian officials and one Eastern European who were spying for the United States or Great Britain, along with spy satellite operations, eavesdropping and general spy procedures. His betrayals are blamed for the executions of Western agents working behind the Iron Curtain and were a major setback to the CIA during the Cold War.

He pleaded guilty without a trial to espionage and tax evasion and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors said he deprived the United States of valuable intelligence material for years.

He professed “profound shame and guilt” for “this betrayal of trust, done for the basest motives,” money to pay debts. But he downplayed the damage he caused, telling the court he did not believe he had “noticeably damaged” the United States or “noticeably aided” Moscow.

“These spy wars are a sideshow which have had no real impact on our significant security interests over the years,” he told the court, questioning the value that leaders of any country derived from vast networks of human spies around the globe.

In a jailhouse interview with the Washington Post the day before he was sentenced, Ames said he was motivated to spy by “financial troubles, immediate and continuing.”

Ames was working in the Soviet/Eastern European division at the CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Va., when he first approached the KGB, according to an FBI history of the case. He continued passing secrets to the Soviets while stationed in Rome for the CIA and after returning to Washington. Meanwhile, the U.S. intelligence community was frantically trying to figure out why so many agents were being discovered by Moscow.

Ames’ spying coincided with that of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who was caught in 2001 and charged with taking $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to sell secrets to Moscow. He died in prison in 2023.

Ames’ wife, Rosario, pleaded guilty to lesser espionage charges of assisting his spying and was sentenced to 63 months in prison.

Hollyoaks spoilers have confirmed that Liberty Savage gets caused in the act with her mystery new man by Sienna Blake next week and it’s a familiar face to Brookside fans

A Brookside legend is exposed as the secret lover of a Hollyoaks beauty next week.

In upcoming scenes of the Channel 4 soap, Liberty Savage (Jessamy Stoddart) is beaming after going on a date and tells John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) all about it.

Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) arrives home distraught and Liberty comforts her before a man springs out from her sister’s bedroom – it’s Tinhead.

Fans last saw Timothy ‘Tinhead’ O’Leary (Philip Olivier) after the iconic Hollyoaks and Brookside crossover episode in October when Marie Fielding (Rita Simons) moved to Brookside Close, after her pregnancy lie was exposed.

Marie met Tinhead but what brings him to Hollyoaks?

Later in the week, Sienna goes to Jez Blake’s (Jeremy Sheffield) shed and is about to destroy it until she hears movement, someone is in there.

She runs and finds a van driving off and fans see that it’s Tinhead but why was he lurking around Jez’s shed?

Fans will know that Sienna’s serial killer father Jez and Clare Devine’s mid-air fight led to their plane crashing and hitting the love boat causing the death of Peri Lomax (Ruby O’Donnell).

A brawl ensued, with Sienna barely restraining Ste Hay (Kieron Richardson), who wanted to exact his revenge against Jez over his niece Peri’s death.

Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) was able to handcuff Jez to a railing by the pond but, when the murderer unexpectedly freed himself, Liberty, John Paul and Ste rushed to stop him, causing him to slip into the water.

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There, Jez met a terrible, off-screen fate courtesy of the plane’s airscrew back in full motion. Fans will have to see why Tinhead is hanging out Jez’s old haunt.

Elsewhere in the village, Hollyoaks spoilers have confirmed that Sienna is kicked out by new mum Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerrin).

Cleo snaps at Sienna feeling scrutinized and, hearing a commotion, Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi) goes round to check on them.

At the Maaliks, a distraught Sienna asks Misbah why Cleo is treating her like this. Misbah wonders whether Sienna may be suffering from PTSD following recent events with Jez.

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am