A former CIA officer who left in 2014, now turned TikTok sensation, Brittany Butler (@brittanybutlerbooks), is sharing a story that has shocked almost every single intelligence officer she knows.
Brittany joined the CIA in 2006 and did work in science and technology for a while. In 2009, a man named David Rush came to the CIA and worked in the same field.
Brittany did not work directly with him, but she knew who he was and occasionally saw him in meetings.
“I don’t know anything about this program that he was supposedly a part of, in which he made up this organization or this special access program that he used to funnel a bunch of money to himself,” said Brittany.
“So, he was caught with $40 million worth of gold bars in his home. The reason why this is absolutely baffling to most intelligence officers is not only because he was caught with so much money but then also how did this guy possibly pass the background investigation that we all have to go through?”
For example, David Rush lied about his college education and about being a Navy pilot. The CIA background check is very rigorous, and every detail is double-checked and double-checked again.
So, no one understands how this guy got away with it after the multiple layers of verification.
The special program that he was involved in is used to protect extremely sensitive information within the intelligence community. Being a part of such programs does not give you the freedom to do whatever you want. You still need to get approval for money for certain operations from senior members.
David Rush was somehow a senior member, but he still had to follow an approval chain of command. It is unclear how he managed to be approved to obtain $40 million in gold bars of all things.
“I think it not only shows holes in our national security approval process to obtain a clearance, but I think it also has holes in what the bureaucratic process is to get money approved at the CIA,” concluded Brittany.
By the way, David Rush is currently behind bars pending a trial, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin Tisdale called him a “tremendous fraud” and “master manipulator.”
Brittany’s video prompted a wave of speculation from some TikTok users, as well as stories of their own experiences visiting CIA headquarters.
“My thought is that he had someone on the inside reviewing applications and background checks and approved his application without question,” theorized one user.
“I once went to Langley to attend a Toastmasters meeting with a group from my own company (we were invited). At the time, being the geek that I am, I had a watch with a built-in audio recorder. I could’ve entered with it, as security didn’t notice it. But I pointed it out, and they then held onto it until I left,” commented another.
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
