ALLEGED SPY COULD ELUDE DEATH PENALTY IN DEAL.(MAIN)

Byline: DAN EGGEN and BROOKE A. MASTERS Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department has decided not to seek the death penalty for alleged spy Robert Hanssen if Hanssen cooperates with prosecutors, a breakthrough in negotiations that could lead to a guilty plea in the most damaging espionage case in FBI history, sources familiar with the case said Thursday.

The decision to abandon the death penalty remains informal and could be reversed if negotiations fall apart, but several sources said that is unlikely. Instead, the two sides are moving toward an agreement that would require Hanssen to plead guilty to spying charges and fully brief prosecutors and …