Ogorodnikova's lawyers have charged previously in court documents that Hunt and Ogorodnikova had an affair before her involvement with Miller, but Brian softened the allegation Friday after denials by Hunt of any sexual involvement with the accused spy.
"Svetlana fell in love with Hunt. She became dependent on Hunt. They saw each other three or four times a week and he was affectionate in public," Brian said, adding that he didn't "expect Hunt to admit that he and Svetlana had an affair."
While Brian emphasized Ogorodnikova's personal problems in his opening remarks, Kendall contended that she was actually the "dominant partner" in the relationship that developed between her and Miller beginning May 24, 1984.
Ogorodnikova recruited Miller to work for the KGB in August, 1984, after a trip to Moscow where she met with Soviet intelligence officials including unindicted co-conspirator Alexander Grishin, a KGB officer with the diplomatic title of vice consul of the Soviet consulate in San Francisco, Kendall said.
Called 'Classic Target'
Noting Miller's own personal problems, which included financial troubles and a history of sexual promiscuity, Kendall called the former agent a "classic target for a KGB recruitment operation" and added that Miller was deeply involved with Ogorodnikova romantically.
Kendall said evidence during the expected nine-week trial will show that Miller was "totally infatuated" with Ogorodnikova. He accused her of "cold-bloodedly delivering" on earlier promises that she would deliver an FBI boyfriend to the KGB, saying she had selected Miller because she wasn't able to produce Hunt.
Miller, 48, the first agent in FBI history charged with espionage, is scheduled to be tried separately after the trial of the Ogorodnikovs. Kendall said he would be called as a witness, but joined defense lawyers in warning the jurors that no one knows what he plans to say.
