'George Santos of Florida' accused of sexually harassing legislative staffers: report

Fabian Basabe, an embattled Republican state representative known by his constituents as the "George Santos of Florida," has been accused by two legislative staffers of sexual harassment, reported the Miami Herald on Thursday.

"The lawsuit says Basabe made repeated lewd sexual comments and advances toward a legislative aide and an intern, slapped the aide’s butt without his consent while they attended an elementary school career day, and groped and tried to kiss a Florida State University graduate student in a car before hiring him as an intern," reported Aaron Leibowitz. "The suit filed in Leon County Circuit Court also repeats a claim by Basabe’s legislative aide in Tallahassee, Nicolas Frevola, that Basabe slapped Frevola across the face and told him to stand in a corner at a private event in January. Frevola remains on paid administrative leave after the incident."

The Florida outlet continues:

"Last week, a law firm hired by House Speaker Paul Renner to investigate that allegation found there was 'physical contact' between Basabe and Frevola but said no witnesses could corroborate the slap and that it was 'inconclusive' whether it had occurred," said the report. "Basabedenied any inappropriate conduct with Frevola, 25, or former intern Jacob Cutbirth, 24, and called the accusations 'ridiculous' in a June 29 interview with CBS News Miami, saying the investigation by the law firm, Allen Norton & Blue, had 'cleared' him. The Miami Herald and CBS News Miami have been jointly investigating Basabe’s conduct."

According to Cutbirth's lawsuit, the Herald continued, "Basabe told him repeatedly to 'flirt with him' while he was in the office and described him as 'eye candy' in front of other people ... Basabe suggested Cutbirth should break off his engagement to his girlfriend and should 'explore his sexuality by having sex with men,' the lawsuit states. On one occasion, Basabe allegedly showed Frevola and Cutbirth a photograph of a naked man on his phone. And he told the pair he was a 'bottom' and that Frevola and Cutbirth should be 'tops,' the suit says."

In 2021, Basabe ran unsuccessfully for Miami Beach Commission, one of the most heavily LGBTQ communities in Florida, on a moderate platform and pledged to protect LGBTQ rights, but since being elected to the legislature has come under fire for joining with the most extreme parts of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' agenda, including voting to expand the infamous "Don't Say Gay" law that prohibits virtually any slight mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in Florida classrooms.

He identified as gay during his 2021 run, but since 2005 he has been married to a clothing industry heiress he has described as his college sweetheart, and currently dodges questions about his sexual orientation.

All of these controversies have earned Basabe comparisons to Congressman George Santos (R-NY), a gay Brazilian-born lawmaker who was revealed to have fabricated almost every single aspect of his life story on the campaign trail, from his education to his work experience to a fake Jewish heritage. Santos is now under indictment for wire fraud, benefits fraud, and money laundering.