Source: Alleged Spy Told Wife, Priest of Activities Years Earlier

June 16, 2001 -- Accused FBI spy Robert Hanssen told his wife Bonnie about his activities as early as 1980, well before prosecutors have said he started passing secrets to Moscow, a source has told ABCNEWS.

When Bonnie Hanssen confronted her husband, the source added, he said he was trying to trick the Russians and see whether they'd pay him money. The acknowledgement led to a confrontation between the two and she forced her husband to meet with a priest.

It's not clear that the wife knew Hanssen's activity amounted to espionage. Hanssen's attorney Plato Cacheris declined to comment, other than to say, "His wife has absolutely no complicity in any of his alleged activities."

A law enforcement official added that there was no sense that authorities plan to go after Mrs. Hanssen.

The official also said he didn't think it would affect a tentative agreement to save the FBI veteran from the death penalty. Also on the table as part of that deal would be to make Hanssen's pension available to his wife.

U.S. Considers Plea in Hanssen Case

ABCNEWS Ariane DeVogue and Pieere Thomas contributed to this report.