A former senior CIA officer with top secret security clearance has been charged with stealing public money after investigators allegedly discovered millions of dollars in cash, gold bars and luxury items linked to him, according to court documents cited by NBC News on Thursday.
Federal prosecutors charged David Rush last week in the Eastern District of Virginia with criminal theft of public money. Authorities alleged that Rush, who previously held a management position, requested large amounts of funds for supposed work-related operations between November and March.
According to an FBI affidavit, Rush sought foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars while claiming the assets were necessary for official purposes. However, investigators later recovered only part of the requested funds from a storage facility near his office.
On May 18, federal agents searched Rush’s residence and allegedly seized around 300 gold bars valued at more than $40 million. Agents also recovered nearly $2 million in US currency and 35 luxury watches, court documents stated.
Investigators accused Rush of knowingly diverting government funds for personal use and transferring the assets to his home for financial gain.
Although court filings did not identify the agency where Rush worked, two individuals familiar with his employment history confirmed he had served at the CIA. One source said authorities recovered most, if not all, of the missing funds and valuables.
Meanwhile, the CIA and FBI said the arrest followed an internal CIA investigation initiated after potential legal violations surfaced. CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly referred the matter to the FBI for further action.
Prosecutors also accused Rush of repeatedly lying about his educational and professional background in government job applications. Investigators said he falsely claimed degrees from Clemson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and also fabricated military aviation credentials, including service as a Navy pilot and adviser at the Air Force Institute of Technology.
