Aldrich Ames, a CIA officer, spied for the Soviet Union and Russia from 1985 to 1994, motivated by financial difficulties and disillusionment. Exploiting his position, he compromised numerous CIA operations before being arrested, making it one of the most damaging espionage cases in U.S. history.
Aldrich Ames, a former CIA officer, spied for the Soviet Union and later Russia by providing them with classified information over several years. Between 1985 and 1994, Ames compromised numerous CIA operations and agents, causing significant damage to U.S. intelligence efforts. He was motivated by financial difficulties and ideological disillusionment. Ames had access to sensitive information due to his position in the CIA's Soviet-East European Division, and he exploited this access to betray his country. His espionage activities were discovered in 1994, leading to his arrest. Ames received payment for his betrayal, amassing a significant amount of money from his dealings with the Soviet and Russian intelligence agencies. The Ames case remains one of the most damaging espionage incidents in U.S. history.