CIA Analyst Who Unmasked Traitor Ames Dies at 79

Sandra Grimes, a former counterintelligence analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has died at the age of 79. Grimes played a crucial role in unmasking Aldrich H. Ames, considered the deadliest traitor in CIA history. Contrary to typical spy narratives, Ames's treachery was uncovered not through traditional espionage but by Grimes's meticulous review of financial records. In 1992, by merging data from two spreadsheets, she identified discrepancies in Ames's bank deposits, which ultimately led to his discovery as a mole. Ames's betrayal resulted in the deaths of at least eight Russian double agents working for the U.S., causing a significant blow to American intelligence.