A former Central Intelligence Agency officer with top secret security clearance has been arrested on charges of criminal theft of public money after hundreds of gold bars were discovered in his Virginia home.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation found 303 gold bars, each weighing approximately one kilogram, worth more than $40 million, along with roughly $2 million and 35 luxury watches at the residence of David Rush. The arrest followed an investigation into allegations that Rush requested “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.
Rush, who held a senior executive position within the CIA, is accused by authorities of knowingly embezzling, stealing, purloining, or converting U.S. property. The FBI also alleges that he fabricated his military service and fraudulently took paid military leave. Federal investigators noted Rush had no documented record of reporting the disposition of the currency or gold bars to his employer.
A CIA internal investigation identified potential violations of law, leading Director John Ratcliffe to refer the matter to the FBI for criminal prosecution. Rush remains in custody and is scheduled for a hearing on Friday.
