Judge orders detention of ex-CIA official found with $40 million in gold bars

A justice ordered the detention of an ex-CIA authoritative recovered with gold bars worthy astir $40 million successful his location past month.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick said successful a detention proceeding Friday that David Rush indispensable stay successful custody pending trial, determining that helium poses a terrible formation risk. Fitzpatrick said Rush has the means and motive to fly instrumentality enforcement and evade detection.

In May, arsenic FBI investigators were looking into whether Rush had lied astir his acquisition and subject background, they searched his location and discovered 303 golden bars, $2 cardinal successful currency and much than 30 luxury watches. The government's lawyers alleged helium was diversifying funds into commodities that could beryllium traded. They claimed determination is "strong evidence" Rush was trying to fell the funds. 

During the unfastened portion of the hearing, which followed an hourlong sealed hearing, authorities lawyers called Rush a "master manipulator" who lied to his neighbors astir being a pilot, lied to his co-workers and leveraged his "access to seniority." A Justice Department lawyer said Rush "cannot beryllium trusted" and is "fully consenting and capable to skirt the rules." 

Rush is presently being held successful solitary confinement. 

So far, Rush, who attended the Alexandria, Virginia, proceeding Friday, lone faces 1 complaint alleging astir $70,000 successful fraudulent timesheets. 

Prosecutors said ample sums of funds stay unaccounted for, but Rush's defence attorney, Jessica Carmichael, said each the golden bars person been recovered and are a "non-issue." She said that erstwhile the FBI searched his home, Rush told the FBI astir the golden bars and gave them the codes to entree them successful his basement.

The authorities contended Rush should not person had the golden bars successful his home. The funds that are not yet accounted for whitethorn person been a notation to overseas currency, but Rush's lawyer said the authorities has not provided immoderate accusation astir however the overseas currency was intended to beryllium utilized oregon what steps it has taken to find it. An FBI affidavit alleges that astir November 2025 to March 2026, Rush made respective requests to get a important magnitude of overseas currency.

Carmichael said it's "not the defense's load to find overseas currency that's unaccounted for." She argued that the authorities is bringing "sensational" allegations. 

"Mr. Rush ne'er claimed the golden bars to beryllium his," she said successful court. 

Carmichael said that portion immoderate of Rush's defence claims whitethorn "sound bizarre and secretive," the quality of his occupation "can beryllium bizarre and secretive." She contended that Rush could person been held astatine location with an ankle monitor, alternatively than remaining successful custody. 

Rush's lawyer characterized the Justice Department's allegations arsenic being "like Whack-a-Mole" but said she's playing with "a blindfold on." Carmichael besides said that during the sealed information of the hearing, she learned astir caller evidence. She told the tribunal she had asked prosecutors astir find and did not person a response.

FBI Director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche briefed Gang of 8 lawmakers connected the lawsuit earlier this week, sources said.

Sarah N. Lynch contributed to this report.

In:

• Central Intelligence Agency