Former CIA Official Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Leaking Classified Information

A former senior CIA official has pleaded guilty to defrauding the federal government out of approximately $195 million and to leaking classified information to a foreign official, the Department of Justice announced. David J. Rush, 49, admitted to fabricating a "highly classified" government program to justify the acquisition of luxury real estate in South Florida and hundreds of gold bars for personal profit.

In a plea document, Rush also confessed to disclosing "certain descriptive information" to a foreign official, which could "endanger the safety and life of the human source and the US government officers working with the source," and jeopardize the government's ability to recruit human sources. The Justice Department did not identify the foreign government or accuse Rush of profiting from this specific disclosure.

"By his own admission, David Rush defrauded the government of hundreds of millions of dollars, and then misused those funds for extravagant purchases," FBI Director Kash Patel stated. "Rush betrayed his oath, his co-workers, and the American people and he will now face justice for his actions."

Rush's fraudulent activities included attempting to authorize the release of $100 million from a government contract and directing the transfer of approximately $145 million to a holding company he formed. He then used these funds to acquire four luxury properties. Prosecutors also stated that Rush stashed over $40 million worth of gold bars at his Virginia home. He was arrested in May after an FBI raid uncovered more than 300 gold bars, approximately $2 million in U.S. currency, and about 35 luxury watches.

Prosecutors also accused Rush of lying to colleagues and government contractors about his academic and military credentials, falsely claiming the fabricated program was authorized by high-ranking U.S. officials. He is also accused of fraudulently claiming tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 2015. Investigators determined he did not serve as a Navy pilot nor did he attend Clemson University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, schools he claimed to have graduated from.

Rush enlisted in the Navy in 1997 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy Reserves as a lieutenant in 2015. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff is scheduled to sentence Rush on January 28 in Alexandria, Virginia.

"Federal employees are entrusted with serving the American people, not themselves," Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that the agency immediately referred the matter to the FBI after an internal investigation revealed Rush's crimes. "David Rush abused his position and betrayed the public trust and should be held fully accountable for his actions," Ratcliffe added.