George Santos is ‘bulletproof’ after reportedly appearing in Drag: Bannon

Former White House aide Steve Bannon is the latest to take on embattled New York Congressman George Santos after he reportedly appeared in women’s clothing in Brazil over a decade ago.

On Wednesday, journalist Marisa Kabas tweeted that 15 years ago, Santos was an amateur drag queen named “Kitara Revache.” A photo included in the tweet reportedly shows Santos in drag attire alongside drag queen Eula Rochard.

Rochard, who told Kabas she was friends with Santos when he lived near Rio, said everyone knew him as Anthony and “never George.” The photo is from a drag show in 2008 on Icaraí Beach, Rochard added.

“The talented Miss Kitara,” Bannon wrote on the social platform Gettr. “George Santos just got bulletproof… and introduced the first Brazilian-American drag queen.”

Addressing the latest speculation on Twitter on Thursday, Santos defended his past as he has done with a litany of numerous other past adornments.

“The recent media obsession that I am, or ‘performing’, a drag queen is categorically false,” Santos said tweeted. “The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life as I work to deliver results. I don’t let that distract me or worry me.”

Rochard, 58, told Reuters she first became friends with Santos when he was allegedly cross-dressing at the first gay pride parade in Niteroi, a Rio de Janeiro suburb, in 2005.

An unnamed source from Niteroi, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that she also knows Santos and that he is aspiring to be Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro.

Aside from Bannon, most Republicans have so far remained silent on the new Santos allegations. The focus on drag queens and their place in American society has recently escalated among conservatives.

In November, Republican State Representative Tony Tinderholt of Texas appointed Jake Neidert, a self-proclaimed Christian nationalist who had previously advocated the killing of drag show attendees, as legislative director of his office.

The Texas Tribune reported that Neidert, 22, was hired to focus on anti-trans legislation, which is expected to be adopted by the state legislature in 2023.

Tennessee Republicans introduced two bills to the state legislature in November to ban gender-affirming childcare in addition to public drag performances in the state. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson supported both bills in what he said to “preserve Tennessee’s conservative values.”

Some mayors, like one in Missouri, caused protests after adjusting age requirements for drag show contestants based on the content, which he deemed “maybe” violated city ordinances as well as state and federal guidelines.

news week Santos has reached out for comment.