The Daily Populous Friday April 24th, 2026 night edition
Authored by independent.co.uk and submitted by ChiGuy6124

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice

A high-ranking official at the Department of Homeland Security has been suspended following allegations that she solicited tens of thousands of dollars from “sugar daddies.”

A formal complaint was filed against Julia Varvaro, a 29-year-old counterterrorism official, accusing her of keeping transactional relationships that posed a security risk, The Daily Mail reported on Wednesday.

“Varvaro is on administrative leave as a result of the investigation and she is no longer serving in her capacity as a Deputy Assistant Secretary at DHS,” a department official told The Independent.

She was appointed to her senior position in May 2025, shortly after earning a degree in Homeland Security from St. John’s University. Varvaro has attended several MAGA events and has been photographed with President Donald Trump.

The complaint, filed with the DHS inspector general, was submitted by an executive identified as “Robert B,” who said he spent approximately $40,000 on Varvaro during the course of their three‑month relationship after they met on Hinge.

open image in gallery A high-ranking DHS official has been placed on leave following allegations she sought funds from 'sugar daddies,' according to a new report ( Julia Varvaro/LinkedIn )

Robert claimed in his complaint that Varvaro had created a profile on the sugar daddy site Seeking, on which she offered “seductive sophistication.”

“I did not want a sugar daddy/prostitution relationship, after spending $30,000-$40,000 for vacations, Cartier jewelry, expensive handbags, and various shopping trips,” he wrote.

“She told me that she does not have college debt because sugar daddies paid for her college education,” he continued, according to The Daily Mail. “I believe that she's under financial stress and that her actions pose a security risk.”

Varvaro, though, insisted she did not have an account on Seeking and maintained that she had done nothing improper.

open image in gallery A DHS counterterrorism official has been suspended amid allegations she sought money from 'sugar daddies,' according to a new report ( Getty Images )

“I didn't know it was bad to go on vacation with your boyfriend,” she told The Daily Mail. “We were together in an exclusive relationship. We went on vacations. I don't know what's the problem with that.”

Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA official, said he found the allegations disconcerting.

“Allegations of a sugar daddy relationship and unreported income from that relationship are serious issues for DHS security personnel that need to be resolved,” he told the outlet. “I would be curious to see what kind of vetting was done…”

The Independent has attempted to contact Varvaro for comment.

OptimisticSkeleton on April 23rd, 2026 at 13:28 UTC »

Given all the top counter terrorism officials are wildly inexperienced kids in their 20s, we can solidly blame any terrorist attacks that happen on Donald Trump and his shitty appointments to office.

ImLikeReallySmart on April 23rd, 2026 at 13:15 UTC »

These stories are particularly infuriating to anyone who's been subjected to the excruciating background investigations needed to get even a basic level job with government agencies like this, especially counterterrorism. This kind of stuff would've been weeded out almost immediately with previous admins and they'd be sent packing before they started. Here they're just intentionally green lighting anyone who supports the agenda right away which is so dangerous

Edit: Trump himself wouldn't make it very far in one of those investigations either.

Crazy-Nights on April 23rd, 2026 at 13:07 UTC »

I wonder if Trump voters have figured out that all that DEI/doge crap was pure projection. They got rid of the professionals and replaced them with the most corrupt and inept people Trump could find.