Julia Varvaro, 29, a senior counterterrorism official in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is under investigation following allegations of using a “sugar daddy” dating site.
Varvaro now has been placed on administrative leave from her role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism.
A complaint filed by a former partner, identified as Robert B., claims she received tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and trips, raising potential security concerns.
He claims to have spent between $30,000 and $40,000 on luxury trips, Cartier jewellery, handbags, and shopping, and alleged Varvaro said sugar daddies had funded her education and jewellery. He alleges that Varvaro had a profile on Seeking.com, a “sugar daddy” matching website, was under financial stress and said her actions pose a national security risk.
He adds that Varvaro would boast about her government position in airport security lines, allegedly bragging, “ICE works for me.”
Varvaro denies having such a profile or engaging in misconduct, describing the relationship as exclusive and consensual.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not publicly commented on potential security implications.
Sugar Daddy Scandal Follows Corruption Scandal at Trump’s Department of Homeland Security
Varvaro’s suspension comes amid other controversies and scandal involving senior officials at the DHS.
In March, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem had been ousted from her position, after being exposed for “wholesale corruption“.
Noem was involved in a USD 220 million, taxpayer-funded ad campaign – a video that lasted one minute long. For comparison, USD220 million was the production budget of the 2012 Avengers movie.
Varvaro’s scandal also comes less than a month after photos were released of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s husband, Bryon, which appeared to show him cross-dressing in private messages to three different women.
A close ally of Trump and top adviser to the Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the time, Corey Lewandowski, is also under investigation for corruption. Contractors to the DHS allege that they were asked to pay Lewandowski, who sought to personally profit from the contracting process.
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