Julia Varvaro, a top counterterrorism official in the Trump administration, is under investigation after allegations surfaced that she used sugar daddies to fund her lavish lifestyle. The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism, who has held her position since May 2025, is facing an official complaint filed with the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General by a man identified as Robert B.
According to Raw Story, Robert has claimed he spent $40,000 on Varvaro over a three-month relationship, including first-class trips, Cartier jewelry, and designer handbags. The complaint centers on Varvaro’s alleged use of the sugar daddy platform ‘Seeking’, where she reportedly went by the pseudonym “Alessia.”
Robert said she openly discussed how sugar daddies had paid for her college and that the jewelry she wore was “trophies” from these relationships. He also alleged that she consumed marijuana during their time together, a claim she vehemently denies. If true, security experts warn that her behavior could pose a serious national security risk, given her high-level clearance and access to sensitive information.
Varvaro says she’s done nothing wrong
Varvaro, 29, has pushed back hard, telling reporters she did nothing wrong. “We were together in an exclusive relationship. We went on vacations. I don’t know what’s the problem with that,” she said. She denied having a profile on Seeking, though the Daily Mail reported that the account – created the day after Thanksgiving – was taken down after they reached out for comment.
The profile, which used the same photo as her Instagram, described her as offering “seductive sophistication” and seeking a “masculine man who’s attentive, protective, and quietly playful for mutually beneficial experiences.” The relationship between Varvaro and Robert began in January after they matched on Hinge. Their first date was at Minetta Tavern, an upscale French restaurant in Washington, D.C., where Robert says he picked up the $1,400 tab.
From there, things escalated quickly. Over the next three months, they took trips to Aruba, Italy, Switzerland, and San Diego, with Robert footing the bill for first-class flights, luxury hotels, and high-end shopping sprees.
He claims Varvaro frequently expressed dissatisfaction with accommodations, once complaining that their Aruba resort “wasn’t the Ritz” before demanding a switch to the $1,700-a-night Ritz-Carlton. On their way out of Aruba, she allegedly pressured him into stopping at a Cartier store, telling him, “I didn’t think you’d be so stupid not to get me a souvenir.”
Their Valentine’s Day trip to the Italian Riviera and the Swiss Alps was no different. Robert says he bought her a $1,000 camera, a $3,500 Bottega handbag, and winter gear for skiing. He also claims she boasted about using her government position to secure VIP treatment, including having a TSA supervisor expedite their airport screening at Dulles.
“Well, I’m DHS counterterrorism, I might be able to get us behind the scenes,” he recalled her saying. “ICE works for me.” Varvaro denies making these statements, though she admitted to being whisked through security.
The relationship took a turn when Robert introduced Varvaro to his daughters
One of his daughters reportedly called her a “Long Island gold digger.” Text messages show Varvaro growing increasingly demanding, asking for a credit card in her name and sending him bills for rent, Emsculpt treatments, and designer shoes. In one exchange, she texted, “I like feeling provided for and you’re not doing that for me, so not sure it will work.”
Robert replied, “Hm, I’ve dropped $30-40K on/with you in the three months we’ve dated. In the last week, you demanded I give you $4k for rent, $2k for Emsculpt, $1k sandals, a credit card and haven’t gotten to the weekend yet.” Varvaro’s alleged behavior has raised red flags among security experts, who warn that her actions could make her vulnerable to blackmail.
“Allegations of a sugar daddy relationship and unreported income from that relationship are serious issues for DHS security personnel that need to be resolved,” said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA officer. “I would be curious to see what kind of vetting was done on her prior to her employment, given she would have been subject to a full background investigation. How did this not come up?”
A government source compared her case to that of Kristi Noem’s husband, who was recently exposed for paying cash to women he met online. “It’s the same issue as Noem but on a much larger scale and I’d argue is actually worse because getting to Noem is much harder than picking off someone at the DAS level,” the source said.
Varvaro has dismissed all the allegations
Varvaro claims that Robert’s allegations are the rantings of a “mad ex-boyfriend”. She said she has no college debt because of a full scholarship and parental support, not sugar daddies. She also denies recreational drug use, though she admits to having a prescription for Xanax.
As for the financial requests, she argued that covering expenses like rent or gas was reasonable, especially while she was furloughed. “I did nothing wrong,” she insisted. “This is just a mad ex-boyfriend putting crap together. And it’s just really weird. If we made a story about every failed short relationship in DC, this town would implode.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the investigation, and the Inspector General’s office has neither confirmed nor denied its existence. What is clear, however, is that Varvaro’s rapid rise in the Trump administration — she earned her PhD in Homeland Security in 2024 and was appointed at 28 — has now been overshadowed by these allegations. Her social media presence paints a picture of a staunch Trump loyalist.
(Featured image: The Trump White House)
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