Julia Varvaro, 29, a deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism at DHS, has been placed on administrative leave after a formal complaint alleged she engaged in a paid "sugar daddy" relationship, accepted luxury gifts and used recreational drugs. The complainant says he spent about $40,000 during a three-month relationship and discovered an alleged Seeking profile under the name "Alessia." Varvaro denies the drug-use and many of the other claims and calls the allegations the actions of an angry ex. The DHS Office of Inspector General declined to confirm or deny the investigation.
DHS Counterterrorism Official Placed On Leave Amid Allegations Of 'Sugar Daddy' Ties, Luxury Gifts And Drug Use
High-ranking DHS official sidelined over allegations of 'sugar daddy' relationship, luxe gifts and drug use
Julia Varvaro, a 29-year-old deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been placed on administrative leave while an internal inquiry examines allegations that she accepted expensive gifts, participated in a paid "sugar daddy" relationship and used recreational drugs, a DHS source told Fox News.
Julia Varvaro, a DHS deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism, is under investigation after accusations arose related to her personal life.(Fox News)
Details Of The Allegations
The investigation reportedly began after a formal complaint by a man identified only as "Robert," who says the relationship began on the dating app Hinge and lasted roughly three months. Robert told the Daily Mail he spent approximately $40,000 on Varvaro during that period and discovered an alleged profile for her on the website Seeking under the name "Alessia," which he says sought "mutually beneficial" relationships with "masculine men."
Varvaro allegedly boasted about being able to get VIP tickets to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
According to the complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail, the relationship involved luxury travel to Aruba, Italy and Switzerland and purchases including a $3,500 Bottega handbag and shopping trips to Cartier. The complaint also alleges Varvaro used expedited TSA screening at Dulles Airport and boasted of the ability to secure VIP access to the Winter Olympics, reportedly saying, "ICE works for me."
The latest alleged scandal involving DHS comes after photos appeared to show the husband of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem cross-dressing in private messages.
Allegations Of Drug Use
The complainant told the outlet he witnessed Varvaro using marijuana on nearly a dozen occasions and taking recreational Xanax. These claims are part of the formal complaint submitted to the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Subject's Response
Varvaro has denied several of the allegations. In an interview with the Daily Mail she described the allegations as the work of a "mad ex-boyfriend," and said, "I didn't know it was bad to go on vacation with your boyfriend." The report states she acknowledged receiving expedited treatment through Dulles security but denied using marijuana, claiming VIP Olympic access or accepting payments from so-called "sugar daddies." She also said asking for a credit card in her name was "kind of a normal thing."
Investigation Status And Official Comment
A DHS OIG spokesperson told Fox News Digital the office maintains "a longstanding policy neither to confirm nor to deny the existence of any specific investigation" and declined further comment. Fox News Digital reported that Varvaro could not be reached for additional comment.
Context And Related Reporting
The report comes amid separate controversies involving senior DHS figures reported in recent weeks. The Daily Mail and Fox News coverage referenced photos and rumors related to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's family and internal personnel matters; Noem now serves as a special envoy to the Shield of the Americas.
Note: These are allegations that are being investigated. No charges have been reported publicly, and Varvaro has denied key claims described in the complaint.
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