RAID SEIZES CIA OFFICIAL'S GOLD BAR STASH

A former CIA senior officer with top secret-level clearance has been accused of secretly stashing millions of dollars in gold bars in his home that he said he needed for "work-related expenses," according to court documents and two people familiar with his employment history.

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. His lawyer didn't respond to a request for comment.

The case raises questions about the effectiveness of the federal government's security vetting, which is supposed to ensure intelligence officers or other government employees don't betray the public trust or spy for foreign countries.

The U.S. government conducts background investigations on every prospective employee at the CIA and other agencies granted access to sensitive and secret information. And after employees are hired, the government continues to monitor their financial activities, travel, credit records and other information through automated checks to ensure they aren't vulnerable to blackmail.

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, which falls under the authority of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, oversees the background check program, known as "continuous vetting." When the program flags a potential problem or anomaly in an employee's records, officials investigate further.

It wasn't clear how the investigation into Rush began, and it also wasn't clear when he left the CIA. His home was raided just last week.

From November through March, Rush made several requests for funds, including for foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars, according to an affidavit filed in federal court by an FBI agent investigating the case.

In a storage space near his office, investigators found only a portion of the funds. On May 18, federal agents searched Rush's home and seized roughly 300 gold bars worth more than $40 million, court documents said. Agents also seized about $2 million in U.S. currency and 35 luxury watches, mostly Rolexes, according to the affidavit.

To read the complete article, see:
Former CIA officer accused of stealing 300 gold bars, sources say (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/rcna347177)

To read other articles, see:
Prosecutors say ex-CIA official stole $40 million in gold bars from agency (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/28/former-cia-official-arrested-embezzlement-hoarding-more-than-40-million-gold-bars/)
F.B.I. Arrests C.I.A. Official With $40 Million in Gold Bars in His Home (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/27/us/politics/fbi-arrest-cia-official-gold-bars.html)

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