Former CIA official charged with hiding 300 gold bars at home

Istanbul (ANTARA) - A former senior CIA official with top-secret clearance has been charged with theft of public funds, according to court documents and sources familiar with his work, NBC reportedThursday. David Rush, who held a managerial position, was charged last week in the Eastern District of Virginia court with theft of public funds. His lawyer has not commented. According to an FBI affidavit, Rush requested large sums of funds between November and March, including foreign currencies and gold bars worth tens of millions of US dollars. An affidavit is a written statement sworn under oath prepared by an FBI agent and submitted to a judge to obtain a warrant (arrest or search). The document details facts, evidence, and probable cause for the alleged criminal activity. Rush allegedly told officials the funds were needed for work-related expenses, but investigators only found part of the money in a storage space near his office. On 18 May, federal agents searched Rush’s home and seized approximately 300 gold bars valued at over $40 million (£32 million), according to court documents. Federal agents also found around $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches, the affidavit states. The documents allege Rush deliberately took portions of funds submitted for official purposes and moved them to his home for personal gain. Court documents do not specify Rush’s employer, but two sources familiar with his work said he was a CIA employee. One source stated that most, if not all, of the funds including foreign currencies and gold, have been recovered. In a joint statement, CIA and FBI said the arrest resulted from a CIA internal investigation. ‘Following a CIA internal investigation into suspected legal violations, CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred the information to the FBI for law enforcement investigation,’ the statement read. ‘The FBI is working closely with our CIA and Department of Justice partners as we continue a thorough investigation. We are committed to following the facts, ensuring accountability, and upholding the rule of law.’ The case could spotlight scrutiny on US federal security systems designed to detect financial irregularities and other risks among employees with access to sensitive or classified information. The US government conducts background checks before granting classified access to intelligence and national security employees. After employment, relevant officials continuously monitor financial activity, travel, credit records, and other data through a program known as continuous vetting. This program is overseen by the Defence Counterintelligence and Security Agency under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It remains unclear how the investigation into Rush began or when he left the CIA. The affidavit also alleges Rush has been falsifying his educational and professional background for years. prosecutors said Rush submitted three government job applications. In his first application, he claimed to graduate from Clemson University in 2000. In subsequent applications, he added that he earned a graduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. When hired in 2009, Rush again listed this degree and also stated he completed aircraft testing training at the US Naval Test Pilot School, according to court documents. In a later promotion application, he allegedly claimed to have mentored theses at Air Force Institute of Technology and told his superiors he was a US Navy pilot. Investigators stated these claims are false. According to the charges, Rush never graduated from the institutions he cited, and the FAA lacks any pilot licence or certification in his name. The investigation is ongoing.