Republican New York Rep. George Santos denied a report that he performed as a drag queen named “Kitara” in Brazil in the 2000s.
Santos, the first openly-gay Republican to enter office, has lied about much of his life, including his ancestry, education, and previous employers. He has resisted calls to resign his seat, and received committee assignments. In the latest, he pushed back on a Wednesday Substack post from an MSNBC columnist claiming that he performed in drag in Brazil, where he apparently lived from 2008-11.
“The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false,” Santos tweeted.
The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or “performed” as a drag Queen is categorically false.
The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results.
I will not be distracted nor fazed by this.
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 19, 2023
MSNBC columnist Marisa Kabas reported in her Substack “The Handbasket” that Santos performed as a drag queen named “Kitara” at several events in Niteroi, a city near Rio de Janeiro. According to another drag queen, Santos “did not have what it takes to be a professional. George did not have the glamor for that.” (RELATED: Brazil To Press Fraud Charges Against Rep-Elect George Santos)
Santos went by his middle name, Anthony, while living in Brazil. His mother Fatima Devolder was a Brazilian national who worked as a housekeeper. While there, Santos was accused of stealing a checkbook and passing fraudulent checks from one of his mother’s employers. The Brazilian government let the case lie dormant in 2011 when Santos fled the country for the U.S., but has since revived it after he made international news.
Several Republican members of Congress have called on Santos to resign his seat, although the GOP leadership is not doing so. Santos’ resignation would drop the GOP’s majority to nine seats, meaning that Republicans could only lose three members on any vote. The GOP Steering Committee placed Santos on the Science and Small Business committees on Wednesday.