{"id":4098,"date":"2026-05-29T15:40:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/29\/senior-cia-official-accused-of-stealing-40m-in-gold-bars-from-agency\/"},"modified":"2026-05-29T15:40:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T15:40:04","slug":"senior-cia-official-accused-of-stealing-40m-in-gold-bars-from-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4098","title":{"rendered":"Senior CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars from agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"3711251a-ce77-4ce7-836b-64fa7e3a0dd0\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Stacked gold bars\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/31dfc86b66f1ed7c60d8e58ce7d3bc3e158fce8f\/291_0_2918_2334\/master\/2918.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"371.9362577107608\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">David Rush was accused of stealing gold and cash that he had requisitioned from the CIA for \u2018work-related expenses\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Shannon Stapleton\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"3711251a-ce77-4ce7-836b-64fa7e3a0dd0\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">David Rush was accused of stealing gold and cash that he had requisitioned from the CIA for \u2018work-related expenses\u2019.<\/span> Photograph: Shannon Stapleton\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Senior CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars from agency<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>David Rush\u2019s trial for allegedly taking 303 gold bars and $2m in foreign currency from agency was pushed to next week<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/live\/2026\/may\/29\/donald-trump-pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-iran-redistricting-latest-news-updates\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">US politics live \u2013 latest updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A senior intelligence operative accused of stealing hundreds of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/gold\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">gold<\/a> bars worth more than $40m and hiding them at home remained in custody in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/virginia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Virginia<\/a> on Friday after a judge pushed his first court appearance to next week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">David Rush, a former executive service-level employee for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/cia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)<\/a>, is alleged to have taken 303 bullion bars, each weighing 2.2lb (1kg), and more than $2m in foreign currency, from his government office, according to an eight-page <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596235\/gov.uscourts.vaed.596235.2.0.pdf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">FBI affidavit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He was arrested last week and charged with stealing public money after a search warrant executed at his home \u201cin the eastern district of Virginia\u201d also turned up 35 luxury watches, many of them Rolex.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"4bd89de5-7f22-449a-b920-77a8fda6f85e\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-ak3j0c\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/28\/california-los-gatos-party-mom-sentenced\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">California\u2019s \u2018Los Gatos party mom\u2019 sentenced to 35 years in prison<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cOn or around November 2025 through on or around March 2026, Rush made several requests to the [United States government] to obtain a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses,\u201d FBI special agent Matthew Johnson wrote in the criminal complaint, filed in US district court in the eastern district of Virginia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The document did not explain what Rush intended to do with the gold and cash, which was discovered missing from an office he used at a government storage space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The theft of public money charge relates not to the bullion or currency, but to the allegation that Rush falsified his educational qualifications and military service to secure his job with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/cia\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">CIA<\/a>, which he joined in 2009 and secured \u201ctop secret\/secure compartmented information clearance\u201d, according to the FBI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Rush is also alleged to have committed timecard fraud.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cSince being honorably discharged in February 2015, Rush has claimed 744 hours of military leave on his official timesheet, representing approximately $77,000 in compensation,\u201d Johnson wrote, adding that Rush left the navy as a lieutenant but represented himself in the navy reserves as a captain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">He also falsely claimed to have been a navy pilot, Johnson wrote.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">A joint statement from the CIA and the FBI said Rush was arrested on 19 May. \u201cAfter 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,\u201d it said, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/27\/us\/politics\/fbi-arrest-cia-official-gold-bars.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">New York Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Rush was denied bond and the magistrate judge William Fitzpatrick on Thursday agreed to postpone a detention hearing until 5 June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/virginia\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Virginia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/cia\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">CIA<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Senior%20CIA%20official%20accused%20of%20stealing%20%2440m%20in%20gold%20bars%20from%20agency&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/29\/cia-official-gold-theft-trial?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F29%2Fcia-official-gold-theft-trial&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/29\/cia-official-gold-theft-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Rush was accused of stealing gold and cash that he had requisitioned from the CIA for \u2018work-related<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}