Government says evidence is overwhelming against alleged Russian spies, cites 100+ messages

DOJ: Detain alleged Russian spies as flight risks

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department says it has presented only a fraction of its evidence against four of the alleged Russian spies.

In newly filed court papers, the department says that the evidence against the defendants is overwhelming and that they should not be released. The department has told a New York judge that the flight of one suspect — alleged paymaster Christopher Metsos — after he was freed on bail in Cyprus demonstrates that the others will do the same if set free.

The government says that it has over 100 decrypted messages between several of the alleged conspirators and Moscow intelligence headquarters.