A veteran CIA officer arrested for allegedly hoarding millions of dollars worth of gold bars has been linked to Stephen A. Feinberg, a senior Pentagon official in the Trump administration, according to reports from NBC News and The New York Times.
Background of the Case
David Rush, who spent 17 years at the Central Intelligence Agency and held a senior role in the Directorate of Science and Technology, previously worked with Feinberg, a billionaire businessman currently serving as Deputy Secretary of Defense. Reports indicate that Rush and Feinberg may have first met during Trump's first term when both were associated with the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Feinberg chaired the board, which advises the White House and intelligence agencies on intelligence matters. However, The New York Times noted that some officials considered the two men not close associates.
Details of the Arrest
Rush was arrested earlier this month after the FBI discovered over $40 million worth of gold bars during a raid on his Virginia home. Authorities also seized approximately $2 million in cash and several luxury watches, including Rolex timepieces. According to court documents, Rush argued that the gold bars were related to work expenses, stating he requested and received large amounts of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for official purposes.
Investigation and Current Status
Investigators began examining the matter after the CIA could not account for the location of the gold and cash, leading to the search of Rush's residence. The case remains under investigation, and the allegations against Rush have not yet been tested in court.
