Fudging on a travel expense account undoubtedly occurs in corporate America.
But $40 million worth of gold bars for “work-related expenses” is a step beyond.
That, however, is the accusation being leveled against a former CIA manager who has been arrested.
According to NBC, David Rush, who was a manager for the federal agency and held a top secret security clearance, has been accused of secretly stealing and stashing in his home hundreds of gold bars worth $40 million.
Rush was accused of criminal theft of public money in a complaint filed in court in Virginia. He also was accused of lying about his background.
The CIA said, “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. The FBI is working closely with our partners at the CIA and the Department of Justice as we continue to investigate this matter fully. We are committed to following the facts, ensuring accountability, and pursuing justice in accordance with the law.”
The FBI also sponsored the statement.
The report said it wasn’t clear what triggered the Rush investigation, or when he left the CIA. A raid on his home was last week.
The report explained he claimed at times to have graduated from Clemson, to having a graduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and to been at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, and a pilot in the Navy.
“None of it was true, according to the charges,” the report said.
Found at his home also was $2 million in U.S. currency and 35 luxury watches, mostly Rolexes, which can be worth tens of thousands of dollars apiece.
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. A former senior CIA OFFICER has been arrested on MASSIVE FRAUD, STEALING 300 gold bars and secretly stashing them, worth $40 MILLION — and using his position to do so
He had a top-secret security clearance
WOW.
“This was someone given currency [he] said needed… pic.twitter.com/U2N8h8mcp6
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 27, 2026
A report at the Gateway Pundit said, “Rush allegedly used his position to request large amounts of gold and foreign currency, claiming they were for ‘work-related expenses,’ only to allegedly divert and stash them at his Fairfax County residence.”
The report said, “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.”
