Review of “The Fourth Man” by CI experts and managers found gross mischaracterizations of what was, in fact, heroic efforts by Mr. Redmond and his team to build strong Counterintelligence programs, recruit Russian sources, and root out devastating spies in the US Government.
The book contains too many errors, incorrect assumptions and downright falsehoods to provide a complete dissection of each and every one.
Instead, this section identifies the five most egregious false themes which build Mr. Baer’s defamatory case against Mr. Redmond.
This section is then followed by a discussion of exculpatory indicators—a critical perspective which must be considered in these kind of unknown subject investigations, but which was not given sufficient —if any—attention as part of Mr. Baer and Ms. Bannerman’s defamatory thesis regarding Mr. Redmond.
ERROR #1
The November 1994 Matrix Briefing and the Fourth Man: Mr. Baer reports Ms. Bannerman’s firm belief that the leads she presented—known inside CIA and FBI as the Grey Suit Investigation— pointed to one man—Mr. Redmond.
FACT: We now know this lead was confirmed in 2000 to be senior FBI Agent Robert Hanssen.
ERROR #2
The CI Disrupter: Redmond closed down the SIU as it was closing in to protect himself as the “Master Spy”.
FACT: The SIU was never closed down; it was expanded and given stronger, more capable leadership and additional investigative resources and worked closely with FBI investigators.
ERROR #3
Controlled Everything: Mr. Redmond was the Master Controller of all Russian operations, information and data bases and ran them out of his back pocket.
FACT: This would have been impossible, and many officers involved can and have confirmed this. Moreover, the case facts on the operations Ms. Bannerman sites to make this case each have a clear, logical operational explanation she ignores or deliberately distorts.
ERROR #4
DDO Briefing Jan 1995: Ms. Bannerman claimed when she briefed Ted Price—the Deputy Director of Operations and Mr. Redmond’s superior— about the Matrix “Mr. Redmond’s name was never mentioned but it was clear Price understood he alone fit the profile SIU had constructed.”
FACT: This is not credible knowing Mr. Price and his commitment to the post Ames reforms including regular briefings from his senior CI managers.
ERROR #5
Agency management had no interest in investigating spies: “No one was looking for a spy post Ames or wanted to.”
FACT: Ample documentation and interviews with senior Agency officials at the time show this is absolutely false.