Overview
- Julia Varvaro, 29, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday as DHS opened an internal review, a department official confirmed to The Independent.
- The review follows a complaint to the DHS inspector general from a man identified as Robert B., later named in some reports as Robert Bianchi, who says he spent $30,000 to $40,000 on her over three months after they matched on Hinge.
- The complaint alleges she had a Seeking.com profile under the name “Alessia” and sought “mutually beneficial” relationships, and reporters say the profile was deleted after inquiries.
- Varvaro denies having a Seeking account and any wrongdoing, calls the complaint the work of a “mad ex-boyfriend,” disputes drug-use claims, and says the travel was with a boyfriend.
- The complaint also alleges she arranged expedited treatment at Dulles Airport and used marijuana, claims not verified by the inspector general, as outside experts note such issues can jeopardize a clearance in a counterterrorism post.