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c/news · by FoxtrotDeltaTango@sh.itjust.works · 87d

Feds seize $40M in gold bars from ex-CIA agent's house in Virginia

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/05/27/david-rush-cia-gold-bars/90288318007/

229 points · 19 comments · view on lemmy.world

19 Comments

Manjushri@piefed.social · 32 pts · 87d (6 replies)

Between November 2025 and March of this year, Rush asked for − and received − "a significant quantity of foreign currency and tens of millions of dollars in gold bars for work-related expenses," the affidavit in his case says.

A review of the government storage space where Rush was supposed to be storing the bars and money showed that most of it was missing, the affidavit says.

"Hey boss, I need 40 or 50 million worth of gold bars for... you know, that thing you need me to do." I wonder who he was supposed to have bribed with all that gold.

frongt@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 87d (5 replies)

The CIA doesn't like to use details in their accounting. Even their official budget is only one line item, to hide everything they're doing.

partofthevoice@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 86d (4 replies)

The CIA uses seized assets for its covert endeavors, supposedly from what I understand. Like, all the FBI seized bitcoin you hear about every once in awhile… That stuff gets used to incentivize foreign assets to commit espionage.

They also operate certain business fronts in other countries, for espionage related reasons. If those businesses happen to make a profit, it’s also supposed to go into this budget.

Burninator05@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 86d (3 replies)

If i recall correctly that was the point behind the Iran Contra thing. The CIA needed money to fund a rebel group in Nicaragua so they sold weapons to the Iranian government.

partofthevoice@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 86d (2 replies)

In their head, the mission is ensuring the security and stability of an empire. They’re the Central Intelligence Agency for that authority, after all. With that in mind, I’d wager they actively seek out people with sociopathic traits. You need employees who are willing to do bad things because they believe we’re the good guys. Things like operate within a sovereign state, coercing its citizens and officials. Providing weapons to Iranians. Operating business fronts. Flat out spying. Their resources are practically limitless if the matter includes gratifying a subject. College entry, money, family fortunes, a visa, a new identity, weapons, … again, for any instance of which you might think.. “gee, that’s pretty immoral,” you’ve got to remember that the CIA believes it pales in contract to their larger responsibilities.

How long ago was it when they were testing LCD on American citizens?

quantumcrop@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 86d (1 reply)

How long ago was it when they were testing LCD on American citizens?

I mean like, probably 15 or 20 years at this point.

gothic_lemons@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 86d

Before that it was CRT!!

TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 13 pts · 87d (3 replies)

At his home? The bar for CIA agents is really low, isn't it. A proper agent wouldn't keep them at their own home.

credo@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 87d

Maybe it was someone else’s?

discocactus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 86d

It's low, but it's made of gold.

Mr_WorldlyWiseman@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 0 pts · 86d

probably more suspicious to have them at a 3rd party location with a paper trail. On your own property you have no witnesses and somewhat reasonable physical security.

Furbag@pawb.social · 9 pts · 86d (1 reply)

I wonder if this is at all related to Trump's bizarre comments he made a few months back about visiting Fort Knox to make sure all the gold is still there.

unknown@piefed.social · 5 pts · 86d

And those countries who removed their gold from the US.

FluorideMind@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 87d (5 replies)
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Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 86d (4 replies)

Whoa, are you serious? That's all?

SpraynardKruger@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 86d (3 replies)

From the article:

"During a search of Rush's Virginia home last week, FBI agents found 303 gold bars that each weighed about 2.2 pounds and are estimated to be worth more than $40 million ..."

So no, it is much more than double what is shown in the photo.

Cocodapuf@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 86d (1 reply)

Thanks! That sounded off base, nice to know it's not just me.

FluorideMind@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 84d
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FluorideMind@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 84d
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finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 87d

They'll be transferred to Trump's home in Florida.

REDACTED@infosec.pub · 5 pts · 87d

I remember there being a similar case in China and it blew me away how his basement looked

https://youtu.be/jPTtqYZdEs0

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 2 pts · 84d

I have obtained this picture of the ex-agent in question: