In secretly recorded footage, it was revealed that Dr. Jay Varma, New York City’s former senior health advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, had participated in drug-fueled parties while overseeing the city’s response. In the secretly recorded footage, released on Thursday, September 19th, Varma admitted to attending these gatherings despite strict pandemic restrictions. He confessed to attending two such events between April 2020 and May 2021, acknowledging his risky behavior during the height of the pandemic.
Varma, who served under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, was recorded by an undercover operative affiliated with conservative podcaster Steven Crowder’s “Mug Club.” During the recordings, Varma described sneaking into underground parties where participants consumed MDMA. He even joked about the potential fallout had his actions been discovered, stating that it would have caused “real embarrassment” for the city’s administration at the time. The full, unedited recordings have yet to be released.
The now-public footage has sparked outrage among lawmakers. Varma defended his actions, claiming that the recordings were taken out of context. However, his statements about attending parties where social distancing and other pandemic measures were blatantly ignored have fueled criticisms. Several New York City council members have condemned Varma’s actions, with Councilmember Joann Ariola describing his behavior as “perverse corruption.”
In response to the backlash, Varma admitted that he did not exercise the best judgment during the pandemic but stood by the public health advice he had given to New Yorkers. He emphasized that his primary goal was saving lives and ensuring residents were vaccinated. However, many are now calling for further investigations into Varma’s conduct during the pandemic.
As a result of the revelations, some council members are demanding that municipal workers who were fired for not following the city’s vaccine mandate be rehired. Councilmember Robert Holden stressed the importance of addressing this issue, arguing that those workers had dedicated their lives to serving the city and should not continue to face legal consequences.
