Former CIA officer accused of stashing gold bars ordered to remain jailed pending trial

ALEXANDRIA, Va.— The former CIA officer who was found with $40 million in gold bars stashed at his Virginia home was in court Friday, where a judge ordered him held behind bars until he goes on trial for criminal theft of public money.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.David Rush, a senior CIA officer who worked on one of the most highly sensitive programs in the U.S.

government, watched as prosecutors and his defense attorney sparred in a Virginia courtroom over whether he should remain in jail.Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick sided with the government and ordered that Rush remain detained in the Alexandria Detention Center.“He is in a different position than most people,” Fitzpatrick said, noting his risk of flight and the high level of danger he could pose to the community.Looking unshaven and wearing a dark green jumpsuit with “Alexandria inmate” emblazoned on the back, Rush did not show any visible reaction.

Rush, 49, has also been accused by the government of lying about his work experience and education for nearly two decades, according to court records on file in the Eastern District of Virginia.Assistant U.S.Attorney Gavin Tisdale called Rush a “master manipulator” and a “tremendous fraud” who lied about nearly every aspect of his professional career.Rush’s attorney Jessica Carmichael, arguing that her client should be released pending trial, focused on his only being charged with one count of theft of public funds and his cooperation with the FBI when they searched his home.

Every gold bar Rush allegedly took from the CIA has been accounted for, prosecutors said.“This is about $65,000 worth of time card fraud,” Carmichael said.She noted that her client was being held in solitary confinement due to media attention surrounding his case and said he is only allowed out for two hours a day.Rush was arrested on May 19 after FBI agents raided his Virginia home and ...