Ex-CIA official charged with stealing millions of dollars in gold bars from the federal government

A former senior U.S. government official, David Rush, has been arrested and charged with theft of public money after federal investigators discovered a significant cache of valuables at his Virginia home. The FBI search on May 18 uncovered approximately 303 gold bars, estimated to be worth over $40 million, alongside $2 million in cash and 35 luxury watches.

Rush, reportedly a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official, allegedly requested and received substantial amounts of foreign currency and gold bars between November 2025 and March 2026, claiming these were for "work-related expenses." An internal CIA investigation flagged the missing assets from his workplace, leading to a referral to the FBI. He also faces accusations of falsifying his academic and military credentials, including fraudulently obtaining military leave pay. Rush was arrested on May 19 and is currently awaiting a detention hearing.