A former CIA officer with top-level security clearance has been accused of secretly stashing millions of dollars in gold bars at his home, claiming they were needed for "work-related expenses." David Rush, who held a management position, was charged with criminal theft of public money in a complaint filed last week in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Joint Statement from CIA and FBI
The CIA and FBI jointly issued a statement regarding the charges against Rush, saying: "After a CIA internal investigation identified potential violations of the law, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the information to the FBI for a law enforcement investigation." The statement added: "The FBI is working closely with our partners at the CIA and the Department of Justice as we continue to investigate this matter fully. We are committed to following the facts, ensuring accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the law."
Who is David Rush?
Rush worked for the government in various capacities, though he is not what he claimed to be, and even the departments remained unaware of his original identity. Between November 2025 and March of this year, Rush allegedly made several requests to the government to obtain large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses. As a high-level officer, few details have been revealed. It is unclear how long he worked for the CIA, but reports indicate he was employed by the agency until March this year. Reports confirmed that at that time, the CIA could not locate the gold bars or determine their intended use.
FBI Search and Seizure
When FBI agents searched his home on May 18, they found approximately 303 gold bars, valued at over $40 million, according to the complaint. They also recovered $2 million in US currency and 35 luxury watches. The reason why the FBI initiated the investigation against Rush remains unknown.
False Credentials to Navy and Government
The FBI also accused Rush of lying to the US Navy when he enlisted in 1997 by providing transcripts and other records falsely indicating he had earned an undergraduate degree from Clemson University. Because of that degree, Rush was commissioned as an ensign in the US Navy Reserves in 2004 and was honorably discharged in 2015.
After his discharge, he applied for employment with the federal government three times, citing degrees from Clemson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Naval Postgraduate School. He also listed those schools when applying for his security clearance.
Later, in 2018, he submitted an application to enter the Senior Executive Service, claiming to be a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School and the current director of test for a 145-person, 18-aircraft joint Army/Navy weapons test organization, the complaint says.
