Embattled New York Republican congressman George Santos is denying reports that he performed as a drag queen under the stage name Kitara Ravache.
“The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false,” Santos wrote in a tweet on Thursday. “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,” Santos added.
Two of Santos’ former acquaintances in Brazil told Reuters on Wednesday that Santos competed as a drag queen in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago using the drag name Kitara Ravache. Santos also aspired to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro.
“He’s changed a lot, but he was always a liar. He was always such a dreamer,” Brazilian drag performer Eula Rochard said of Santos.
This revelation comes as Republicans continue to attack drag shows, claiming that they are harmful to children.
Santos, the first openly gay Republican to win a House seat in Congress as a non-incumbent, has admitted to lying about his résumé and is refusing to resign even as there are growing calls for his resignation from Democrats and Republicans.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said the voters of his district should decide his fate. Santos was assigned to two committees in the House related to small business and science.
