New York City's COVID czar admits to holding 'private gatherings' during pandemic lockdown

The former New York City health official who oversaw the city's vaccine strategy admitted on Thursday to partaking in two "private gatherings," one of which included over 200 people, while the rest of the state was in lockdown.

The admission occurred after Dr. Jay Varma was caught on a hidden camera boasting about a so-called "sex party" he held with his wife, and a separate dance party that occurred under a bank on Wall Street, according to NBC News. 

The events occurred in August of 2020 and June of 2021. 

Varma did not deny the comments he made in a video that was posted online on Thursday, but said they were secretly recorded and taken out of context by a "operative for an extremist right-wing organization." However, he did not elaborate on how the comments were taken out of context.

“I served in City Hall between April 2020 — May 2021,” Varma said in a statement through his spokesman Chris Vlasto. “During that time, I participated in two private gatherings. I take responsibility for not using the best judgment at the time. Facing the greatest public health crisis in a century, our top priority was to save lives, and every decision made was based on the best available science to keep New Yorkers safe. 

"I stand by my efforts to get New Yorkers vaccinated against COVID-19," he continued. "I reject dangerous extremist efforts to undermine the public's confidence in the need for and effectiveness of vaccines."

Varma, who was then-Mayor de Blasio's senior public health adviser when the incidents took place, is now the executive vice president and chief medical officer for pharmaceutical company SIGA Technologies Inc.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.