George Santos news - live: White House briefing room laughs at congressman as new drag videos emerge
Embattled GOP Rep George Santos provoked a laugh at Monday’s White House press briefing.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was speaking about new members of Congress being invited to meet the president, when a reporter quipped: “Is George Santos invited?”
The line drew a laugh from the room, and a remark from Ms Jean-Pierre: “I love how everybody laughed at that”.
Meanwhile, Mr Santos appeared to confirm that he appeared in drag during a festival in Brazil, though he denied that he was ever a “drag queen”.
“No, I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys. I was young and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life,” Mr Santos told reporters at a New York airport at the weekend.
Mr Santos has come under fire for appearing to fabricate much of his resume on which he ran for US Congress.
On Sunday, Mr Santos teased a “surprise” for journalists staking out his office. “Can’t wait to see you guys,” Mr Santos wrote.
Looking forward to be back on Capitol Hill this week to serve #NY03. I also have a surprise for the “journalists” assigned to stake out side of my office… can’t wait to see you guys! 🇺🇸💪🏼
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 23, 2023
Santos causes problems for Elise Stefanik
09:30 , John Bowden
GOP caucus chair Elise Stefanik is facing new questions over her role in getting George Santos elected to Congress.
A New York Republican like Mr Santos, Ms Stefanik is facing new critcism from some of her own allies as a result of her efforts to find willing donors to help support Mr Santos’s successful congressional bid. Many are questioning why she put her support so strongly behind a candidate who appears to have made up almost his entire resume.
Read the report at CNN:
From the first questions to GOP blowback : A timeline of George Santos’ many scandals
08:00 , John Bowden
George Santos is officially a member of Congress following a marathon vote to select the GOP’s Speaker of the House and the swearing-in of the 118th Congress.
But it wasn’t even clear that he would make it this far: Dogged by surely one of the oddest scandals to hit American politics in the last few years, Mr Santos was facing calls for his expulsion and resignation even before he was seated as representative for New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
As Mr Santos concludes his first month in the chamber, let’s take a look back at how this scandal evolved, from the beginning to now:
From first questions to GOP rebukes : A timeline of George Santos’ many scandals
George Santos follows in Trump’s footsteps by complaining about the quality of the comedians mocking him
06:30 , John Bowden
Claiming that he had now been “enshrined in late night TV history” following a wave of impressions of him on various comedy shows, George Santos declared on Monday that those mocking him needed to step up their game.
It was a Trump-esque response to the very serious issues he has been caught lying about.
I have now been enshrined in late night TV history with all these impersonations, but they are all TERRIBLE so far. Jon Lovitz is supposed to be one of the greatest comedians of all time and that was embarrassing— for him not me! These comedians need to step their game up.
— George Santos (@Santos4Congress) January 23, 2023
‘He was weird’: Publisher of Long Island newspaper that exposed Santos knew something was up years before election win
05:00 , Richard Hall
The publisher of a Long Island newspaper that wrote the first exposé on George Santos said he suspected the congressman’s bad motivations during their first meeting, which took place years before his election win.
Grant Lally, the publisher of the North Shore Leader, thought he was a “completely non-serious candidate” after meeting him in 2020, during Mr Santos’ first run for office.
“He was weird,” Mr Lally told The Independent. “He acted strangely, he boasted, and at the same time he seemed to bask almost like a child in the attention he was getting.”
Read more:
‘He was weird’: Publisher of local newspaper that exposed Santos had doubts years ago
George Santos finally admits to drag queen past: ‘Sue me for having a life’
03:00 , John Bowden
George Santos appears to have confirmed that he dressed or performed in drag on at least one occasion — the newest eyebrow-raising development in the scandal that has consumed one of Congress’s most junior members.
The admission came as Mr Santos returned home over the weekend to New York, where the Nassau County-area Republican got a change of scenery from the mobs of reporters questioning him on Capitol Hill and was instead interrogated by local reporters in his home district.
He confirmed to a local ABC affiliate that he was indeed the drag performer known as “Kitara Ravache” pictured in now multiple images supplied to reporters by former acquaintances from his past life in Brazil.
Read more:
George Santos finally admits to drag queen past: ‘Sue me for having a life’
Voters strongly favour embattled Rep George Santos resigning, poll finds
01:30 , Eric Garcia
A majority of New Yorkers want embattled Republican Representative George Santos to resign amid a flurry of reports that he fabricated large parts of his life story, according to a new Siena College poll.
A total of 59 per cent of registered voters said Mr Santos should resign from Congress, with 64 per cent of Democrats saying he should. A plurality of Republicans – 49 per cent – want Mr Santos to resign as well. That comes despite the fact that Mr Santos flipped a district on Long Island that had voted overwhelmingly for President Joe Biden.
Read more:
Voters strongly favour embattled Rep George Santos resigning, poll finds
ICYMI: Every George Santos lie ... so far
00:01 , John Bowden
It can be difficult keeping up with the list of fictions that George Santos has been accused of telling, admitted telling, or merely been caught spinning red-handed following a contradictory statement.
But, do not fret: The Independent is here, and we’re keeping track of the whole list of lies even as it continues to grow — both in number and in the sheer scale of the humiliation that it presents for not just Mr Santos, who remains adamant that he will serve two years in office as representative for New York’s third district, but for the Republican House caucus as a whole.
Read the latest from the talented Mr Santos below:
Every lie George Santos has been accused of making
Santos draws laughs at White House press briefing
Monday 23 January 2023 21:46 , John Bowden
Embattled GOP Rep George Santos provoked a laugh at Monday’s White House press briefing.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was speaking about new members of Congress being invited to meet the president, when a reporter quipped: “Is George Santos invited?”
The line drew a laugh from the room, and a remark from Ms Jean-Pierre: “I love how everybody laughed at that”.
'I love how everybody laughed' — Here’s how the White House responded to a question about whether Rep. George Santos (R-NY) is invited to a reception for new members of Congress pic.twitter.com/UBNaNFqCrL
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 23, 2023
Kinzinger: Santos is a ‘liar and a fraud'
Monday 23 January 2023 20:41 , John Bowden
One Republican who is not hesitating to denounce newly-elected Congressman George Santos is Adam Kinzinger, the former congressman who declined to run for reelection last year after serving on the January 6 committee.
Mr Kinzinger responded to the congressman’s promise of a “surprise” for journalists staking out his office with a simple rebuke on Sunday evening.
George Santos is a liar and a fraud. https://t.co/WYoQF5Mki2
— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) January 23, 2023
‘He was weird’: Publisher of Long Island newspaper that exposed Santos knew something was up years before election win
Monday 23 January 2023 19:44 , John Bowden
The publisher of a Long Island newspaper that wrote the first exposé on George Santos said he suspected the congressman’s bad motivations during their first meeting, which took place years before his election win.
Grant Lally, the publisher of the North Shore Leader, thought he was a “completely non-serious candidate” after meeting him in 2020, during Mr Santos’ first run for office.
“He was weird,” Mr Lally told The Independent. “He acted strangely, he boasted, and at the same time he seemed to bask almost like a child in the attention he was getting.”
Richard Hall has the story from the congressman’s backyard:
‘He was weird’: Publisher of local newspaper that exposed Santos had doubts years ago
More videos of George Santos in drag surface
Monday 23 January 2023 18:32 , John Bowden
Another video of George Santos has surfaced, with the 34-year-old appearing once again as “Kitara Ravache”, his drag identity.
According to the account PatriotTakes — run by Democratic operatives — the latest videos have begun trickling out in Brazilian media following the revelations.
Brazilian news published more footage of George Santos in drag as Kitara Ravache. pic.twitter.com/1C6yqIKw9L
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 23, 2023
Residents of NY-03 wonder how to force Santos out of Congress
Monday 23 January 2023 17:34 , John Bowden
Voters in George Santos’s home district tell The Independent that they are mobilising to find a way to force George Santos out of office — either at the ballot box, or through other means.
“We don’t have a game plan. I don’t think anyone does. The country has never seen an impostor in Congress before. So, what’s the path to boot him out?” one resident of the district told The Independent’s Richard Hall.
Read on:
In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound
Stay updated: Every lie disgraced incoming republican Congressman has been accused of making
Monday 23 January 2023 17:43 , John Bowden
It can be difficult keeping up with the list of fictions that George Santos has been accused of telling, admitted telling, or merely been caught spinning red-handed following a contradictory statement.
But, do not fret: The Independent is here, and we’re keeping track of the whole list of lies even as it continues to grow — both in number and in the sheer scale of the humiliation that it presents for not just Mr Santos, who remains adamant that he will serve two years in office as representative for New York’s third district, but for the Republican House caucus as a whole.
Read on:
Every lie George Santos has been accused of making
In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound
Monday 23 January 2023 16:57 , John Bowden
George Santos courted the suburbanites of Nassau County during his journey to Congress. Now, those same voters view him with revulsion after he admitted to a series of increasingly offensive lies about his background.
The Independent’s Richard Hall reports from New York on the aftermath of the first scandal of the 118th Congress:
In George Santos’s district, setting of The Great Gatsby, cries of ‘imposter’ abound
‘Outrageous’: George Santos assigned to two House committees despite fabricated resume, investigations and calls to resign
Monday 23 January 2023 16:00 , John Bowden
The appointment of newly elected congressman George Santos to two House committees has drawn widespread criticism from Democratic officials and critics scrutinising the New York Republican for his alleged campaign finance violations and a fabricated profile with a growing list of false claims about his education and career.
Democratic lawmakers and some Republican officials, including party leadership in his own state, have called on Mr Santos to resign following a wave of accusations that he made up a bulk of his resume, life story and professional accomplishments. He has refused to step down.
Alex Woodward has more:
‘Outrageous’: Furious reactions as George Santos gets committee assignments
Majority of New Yorkers want George Santos to resign
Monday 23 January 2023 15:29 , John Bowden
A Siena College poll released on Monday confirmed what reporters have been assuming for days: That a majority of New Yorkers want Congressman George Santos to resign after he admitted to lying about major parts of his background.
59 percent of registered voters in the state said that the embattled congressman should resign, while majorities of both parties and independents viewed him unfavorably.
It’s shockingly bad polling for a freshman representatives that puts his reelection at a near impossibility.
Wikipedia page with George Santos’s ‘alias’ appears to admit his drag queen past
Monday 23 January 2023 15:19 , John Bowden
An old Wikipedia page purportedly showed that a user named Anthony Devolder – which could be an alias of George Santos – began his “stage life” as a drag queen using a pseudonym, according to a report.
Mr Santos, who represents New York’s 3rd district, on Thursday strongly rebutted reports that he performed in drag competitions under the name “Kitara” while living in Brazil over a decade ago.
However, a Wikipedia page accessed by Politico News from more than a decade ago, showed a user named Anthony Devolder who said he participated in drag shows in Brazil as a teenager.
Read more:
Wikipedia page with George Santos’s ‘alias’ appears to admit his drag queen past
SNL’s Bowen Yang parodies Santos in show opener, ‘Weekend Update'
Monday 23 January 2023 14:59 , John Bowden
Breakout SNL star Bowen Yang appeared not once but twice as George Santos in Saturday’s return of the live comedy special.
For the show’s cold open, Mr Yang portrayed the congressman as “the first African American quarterback to ever dunk a football”, calling himself “the real Bo Jackson.”
And he returned for Weekend Update, where co-host Colin Jost pressed him to stop telling fictions about his personal background.
Jokingly protesting, Mr Yang responded: “I’m a team player, and the sport is lies. At least mine are fun! Meanwhile, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s over here saying 9/11 didn’t happen. I just said it happened to me!”
George Santos finally admits to drag queen past: ‘Sue me for having a life’
Monday 23 January 2023 14:24 , John Bowden
George Santos appears to have confirmed that he dressed or performed in drag on at least one occasion — the newest eyebrow-raising development in the scandal that has consumed one of Congress’s most junior members.
The admission came as Mr Santos returned home over the weekend to New York, where the Nassau County-area Republican got a change of scenery from the mobs of reporters questioning him on Capitol Hill and was instead interrogated by local reporters in his home district.
He confirmed to a local ABC affiliate that he was indeed the drag performer known as “Kitara Ravache” pictured in now multiple images supplied to reporters by former acquaintances from his past life in Brazil.
Read more:
George Santos finally admits to drag queen past: ‘Sue me for having a life’
From the first questions to GOP blowback : A timeline of George Santos’ many scandals
00:03 , John Bowden
George Santos is officially a member of Congress following a marathon vote to select the GOP’s Speaker of the House and the swearing-in of the 118th Congress.
But it wasn’t even clear that he would make it this far: Dogged by surely one of the oddest scandals to hit American politics in the last few years, Mr Santos was facing calls for his expulsion and resignation even before he was seated as representative for New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
As Mr Santos concludes his first month in the chamber, let’s take a look back at how this scandal evolved, from the beginning to now:
From first questions to GOP rebukes : A timeline of George Santos’ many scandals
