Agents also found about $2m in cash and 35 luxury watches in the home of David Rush, who court filings say had top secret clearance.

David Rush made several requests to the US government to receive the bars for “work-related expenses” over the past year, according to court documents. He has been charged with criminal theft of public money in a complaint filed last week.

According to the New York Times, Rush held a senior position in the CIA until recently.