Interesting article
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That is a crazy story. The things found at his house are the main forms of currency used i clandestine ops.
The story of CIA senior executive service employee David John Rush seems to be yet another example of the failure of polygraph screening. Rush evidently passed the pre-employment polygraph despite lying about both his education and his military service.
Similar failures of polygraph screening that come to mind include that of convicted sex pest Brian Jeffrey Raymond and Wikileaks source Joshua Adam Schulte, who was also convicted for receipt, possession, and transportation of child pornography.
This guy was not just a CIA officer but made it to the ranks of the Senior Executive Service (or the Senior Intelligence Service as the CIA likes to say), which is more or less the civilian equivalent of a flag rank officer in the military. So not only was he a swindler, he was a highly successful swindler. Doesn’t say what his career field was but I’ll bet he came from the spooky side.
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Honestly the entire story is pretty upsetting. I actually have two masters, was a former intel officer in the USMC and I couldnt get in last year because of the extended hiring freeze (after completing the entire process). Now knowing guys like this get in - it’s pretty messed up. I also agree fully with the polygraph guy’s comment now - what a joke.
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It makes me wonder who his background investigator was? It appears his military record, academic record, aviation accomplishments were all lies and unverified? Or perhaps he did have accomplices to help verify the lies.
It is still a baffling situation. You would hope the psychologist could sniff it out but it’s likely very difficult. At the same time.. I’d imagine some of the personality traits shown are what the agency wants.. but not necessarily at the onset of the hiring process.. you could also argue it’s impossible to bat a perfect score.. but I wonder if a widespread audit should/will take place. I also hear what you’re saying on the college stuff… but I still find it crazy no one would check even a basic transcript?
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Rush holds a Top Secret/Secure Compartmented Information clearance, according to the FBI affidavit. But the agency alleges that beginning with Rush’s successful 2009 CIA job application, he fabricated academic and military achievements that helped him attain that status and, as a result, earn higher wages.
Rush enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1997, and was later commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserves after providing a transcript showing he earned an undergraduate degree from Clemson University, the affidavit states. In three different applications to join the CIA, he claimed to have attained an undergraduate degree from Clemson, along with a master’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, and other credentials.
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So I’m not sure even the 10 year omission exists in this scenario. What is a great takeaway for everyone is this is why you never lie on an SF-86. The government now will use it as a major legal document for breaking federal law.
Former senior CIA officer accused of stealing gold bars : NPR
There was a case a few years back where an NSA employee was found to have dozens of boxes of classified documents at home. There was no indication that he had sold any or compromised any information; he just liked having them at home.
This CIA guy did not (apparently) sell any of the gold bars, maybe he just liked having them around the house.
Yes, in both cases, they are guilty of crimes and will no doubt be prosecuted (not sure what happened with the guy with all the boxes). But as others have indicated, there are some people in the CI/Personnel Security department who definitely have some 'splaining to do
The SF86 asks if you have attended any schools within the last 10 years but it then asks if you have received any degrees more than 10 years ago. You are required to list all your received degrees each time. It’s a common mistake people make thinking they don’t need to list. I’ve always hated the wording because it confuses people. Perhaps he used this confusing question to obfiscate the truth.
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