A former senior CIA official accused of stealing more than $40 million in gold bars reportedly created a fake spy program to siphon money from the U.S. government, according to the Washington Post.
The Allegations
David Rush, who served as a senior-level employee of the Central Intelligence Agency for 17 years, was arrested in May after FBI agents discovered he had taken 303 gold bullion bars, each weighing about 2.2 pounds, dozens of luxury watches, and over $2 million in foreign currency from his government office.
U.S. officials now allege that Rush also stole millions by establishing an illegitimate special access program, a security protocol that further restricts information. He reportedly initiated two colleagues into the secretive program, preventing them from discussing it with others, and convinced one individual to transfer millions through a fraudulent government contract.
Details of the Scheme
According to sources, Rush created a contract for the fake program. The program was ostensibly related to continuity of government operations, including plans for how the U.S. government would continue functioning during nuclear war or other disasters, as reported by the New York Times. However, questions remain about how Rush managed to create such a highly secretive program without additional clearance from supervisors.
Rush is currently detained in Alexandria, Virginia. He faces charges of theft of public funds, falsifying his education and military credentials to obtain his CIA job, and submitting false time cards claiming to be a Navy reservist.
Impact on the CIA
The scandal has embarrassed the CIA and raised questions about how the agency vets employees with access to sensitive information. Rush himself was involved in a top-secret intelligence gathering program known to very few CIA employees and lawmakers. The Washington Post withheld the program's name after U.S. officials warned that disclosure could harm operations.
According to NBC News, the CIA has placed several employees on leave as investigations continue.
