CIA officer charged in gold bars case working towards plea deal

WASHINGTON — A former CIA officer who was arrested in May after investigators found 303 gold bars worth $40 million at his home is working to finalize a plea deal with federal prosecutors that could help keep the case shrouded in mystery.

David Rush and the Justice Department have a “plea agreement in principle,” the parties said Friday, and are asking a judge to extend a forthcoming deadline for the case to be indicted.

Rush had only formally been charged with one count of theft of public funds, accused of falsifying pay records in a case that was presented by criminal complaint and has not yet been presented to a federal grand jury.

“The parties need additional time to prepare the paperwork, including an agreed upon statement of facts,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty and Rush’s attorney Jessica Carmichael wrote in a joint filing. “A pre-indictment resolution promotes the public interest by conserving government and judicial resources.”

They are asking for a 21-day extension, through October 8. Judge Leonie Brinkema had previously said there would be no extension past her self-imposed deadline of Sept. 17.

Details of the working plea agreement are not yet available.

The case against Rush has…

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