Ex-CIA officer accused of siphoning $40 million in gold bars claimed it was for...

A former CIA officer, David Rush, stands accused of a sophisticated scheme to siphon more than $40 million in gold bars and foreign currency. According to The New York Times, Rush allegedly exploited a highly classified intelligence system, creating a bogus "special access program" to mask his illicit activities.

Between November 2025 and March of this year, Rush reportedly requested tens of millions of dollars in gold and foreign currency, claiming they were necessary for "work-related expenses." However, these assets were allegedly diverted for his personal enrichment. The fake program was presented as being related to "continuity of government operations," a term typically associated with emergency preparedness, allowing Rush to leverage secrecy to conceal the movement of government assets.

The scheme unraveled after a CIA internal investigation flagged potential misconduct and referred the case to the FBI. A subsequent search of Rush's Virginia home uncovered approximately 303 one-kilogram gold bars valued at over $40 million, around $2 million in cash, and 35 luxury watches. Prosecutors have described Rush as a "master manipulator," alleging he also built a false professional identity, including fabricating academic qualifications, to secure senior government positions and security clearances.

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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.