Ex-CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars reportedly created fake spy program

David Rush was a senior-level employee of the Central Intelligence Agency for 17 years. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP View image in fullscreen David Rush was a senior-level employee of the Central Intelligence Agency for 17 years. Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP Ex-CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars reportedly created fake spy program David Rush, who was arrested in May, stole millions from US government through ‘special access program’, officials say A former executive intelligence agent who is accused of stealing more than $40m in gold bars from the CIA reportedly created a fake spy program to siphon money, the latest on his fraudulent activity, the Washington Post first reported . David Rush, who was a senior-level employee of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for 17 years, was arrested in May after FBI agents discovered Rush had taken 303 bullion bars, each about 2.2lbs, dozens of luxury watches, and more than $2m in foreign currency from his government office. View image in fullscreen David J Rush. Photograph: Alexandria Sherrif’s Office/AP But US officials are now alleging that Rush also stole millions of dollars from the US government by creating an illegitimate “special access program”, a security protocol that further restricts information. Rush reportedly “read in” two colleagues into the secretive program, preventing them from discussing it with others. He then convinced one individual to transfer millions to the program through a fraudulent government contract. “He made up a contract,” a source told the Post. No further details, such as the name of the special access program or how Rush managed to sway the employee, were provided. Questions remain on if Rush’s colleagues who were initiated into the program knew that it was illegitimate and how Rush managed to create such a highly secretive program without additional clearance from his supervisors. On paper, the program was related to the “continuity of government operations”, including programs on how the US government would continue operation in the event of nuclear war and other disasters, the New York Times reported . Former senior CIA official accused of stealing $40m in gold bars from agency Read more Rush, who is currently detained in Alexandria, Virginia , has been charged with theft of public funds in connection to allegations that he falsified his education and military credentials to obtain his CIA job and classification credentials. He also erroneously filled out time cards based on a lie about being a navy reservist. “Since being honorably discharged in February 2015, Rush has claimed 744 hours of military leave on his official timesheet, representing approximately $77,000 in compensation,” wrote FBI special agent Matthew Johnson in a criminal complaint. The latest scandal with Rush has caused embarrassment for the CIA and sparked additional questions on how the agency vets employees who are often given access to highly sensitive information. Rush himself