A former senior CIA officer, David Rush, has been accused of stealing more than $40 million in gold bars and luxury watches from the US government, and of creating a fake spy program to siphon additional funds, according to reports.
Rush, who worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for 17 years, was arrested in May after FBI agents discovered 303 gold bullion bars, dozens of luxury watches, and over $2 million in foreign currency in his government office. He is now also alleged to have created an illegitimate 'special access program' to steal millions more.
Rush reportedly initiated two colleagues into the secretive program, preventing them from discussing it with others, and convinced one to transfer millions through a fraudulent government contract. The program was ostensibly related to 'continuity of government operations', including plans for nuclear war and other disasters.
Rush, currently detained in Alexandria, Virginia, has been charged with theft of public funds. He is also accused of falsifying his education and military credentials to obtain his CIA job, and of claiming 744 hours of military leave for which he was not entitled, amounting to approximately $77,000 in compensation.
The scandal has caused embarrassment for the CIA and raised questions about how the agency vets employees with access to highly sensitive information. Several CIA employees have been placed on leave as investigations continue.
