Washington ( CNN ) -- A former U.S. government scientist who served in sensitive positions on classified aerospace projects pleaded not guilty to attempted espionage Thursday . He will be held without bond pending a jury trial . Stewart David Nozette , 52 , appeared in U.S. District Court wearing a prison uniform with bold , horizontal black and white stripes . He smiled as his defense attorney greeted him , and he seemed relaxed during the proceeding . In arguing against bond , prosecutors played what they call an undercover videotape of a conversation just 10 days ago between Nozette and an agent . Nozette , sitting back in a chair or sofa at what appears to be a hotel room , is heard negotiating for a false passport and a means to get to a country with no extradition policy with the United States . `` I like the idea of an invisible identity , '' Nozette was heard saying in the recording . `` Can you actually get me that , that artificial name and stuff ? '' He discussed gift cards under an alias , and a `` kitty '' that he could use for expenses . Prosecutors Thursday initially said they would present a witness to authenticate the videotape . But the judge accepted the government 's claim and a transcript and allowed the eight-minute recording to be played . Authorities have said in a criminal complaint that Nozette , of Chevy Chase , Maryland , tried to deliver classified information to someone he thought was an Israeli intelligence official but who was actually an FBI undercover agent . Nozette , responding on the videotape to the agent 's suggestion that arrangements would involve `` a lot of work , '' told the agent , `` This is n't just , you know , a few documents . ... I 'm making a career choice . '' The camera in the undercover video is positioned over that agent 's right shoulder , looking directly at Nozette . When the agent asked whether the negotiations were only for himself , Nozette said yes , and suggested his wife would not accompany him . `` She would ask too many questions , '' Nozette said . The wife , Wendy McColough , was not seen in the courtroom Thursday , but had been in the spectator gallery October 20 when her husband made his initial appearance . A transcript of the undercover video came out just hours before Thursday 's proceeding . Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Asuncion has said evidence will show Nozette disclosed to investigators information that was `` top secret , related to our national defense , that would cause exceptionally grave damage to national security '' if revealed to a foreign country . In an affidavit , the FBI sets out the case against Nozette , who received a doctorate in planetary sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology . Nozette had a `` top secret '' clearance and served at the White House on the National Space Council for President George H.W . Bush , the affidavit says . Later , from early 2000 to early 2006 , he did research and development for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency , the Naval Research Laboratory , and NASA 's Goddard Space Flight Center , it says . The document says Nozette also acted as a technical consultant from 1998 until early 2008 `` for an aerospace company that was wholly owned by the government of the state of Israel . '' The company consulted with Nozette monthly , getting answers to questions , and he received total payments of $ 225,000 , the affidavit says . In early September , Nozette was contacted by phone by an individual purporting to be an Israeli intelligence officer , but who really was an FBI undercover agent , the document says . They met in downtown Washington in front of a hotel , and over lunch , Nozette `` demonstrated his willingness to work for Israeli intelligence , '' it says . The undercover agent engaged in a series of meetings with Nozette , and eventually Nozette allegedly deposited `` secret '' information in a `` dead drop '' post office box . Some of the information , the affidavit says , was classified as secret . The criminal complaint does not accuse the government of Israel of any violations of U.S. law . Nozette next has a status hearing November 10 at U.S. District Court , before Judge James Robertson .
Nozette appeared early 2008 in Israel Nozette . Judge denied bond after seeing undercover video of Nozette and agent . Nozette may have planned to leave wife behind if he fled the U.S. Nozette willing `` to work for Israeli intelligence , '' complaint states .