FBI probes Santos fundraiser for sick dog
Money may not have gone to pet
Federal authorities are investigating a military veteran’s claim that U.S. Rep. George Santos raised $3,000 (U.S.) for lifesaving surgery for his pet dog several years ago, then never turned over the money for the animal’s care, according to a published report.
U.S. Navy veteran Richard Osthoff told Politico on Wednesday that two FBI agents contacted him after he went public last month with his story about his experiences with Santos in 2016.
Osthoff told the news site he gave the agents text messages he exchanged with Santos, who at the time was going by the name Anthony Devolder.
“I’m glad to get the ball rolling with the bigwigs,” Osthoff said. “I was worried that what happened to me was too long ago to be prosecuted.”
The local news site Patch reported last month that Osthoff, now 47, was living in a roadside tent in Howell, N.J., in May 2016 when his pit bull mix, Sapphire, developed a lifethreatening stomach tumour.
A veterinary technician connected Osthoff to Santos’ pet charity, Friends of Pets United, Osthoff said. Authorities have said the group was not a registered charity.
According to Osthoff, Santos set up a GoFundMe account and raised $3,000 for Sapphire’s surgery, but never turned it over. Sapphire died in 2017. Santos, a Republican, has declined to answer questions about the matter and also refused to do so at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.
In a tweet on Jan. 19, however, he wrote that “the reports that I would let a dog die is (sic) shocking & insane.”
“My work in animal advocacy was the labor of love & hard work. Over the past 24hr I have received pictures of dogs I helped rescue throughout the years along with supportive messages,” he wrote.
Santos is already facing investigations over multiple lies he told about his life story, work history and family background.
The congressperson announced on Tuesday that he is temporarily stepping down from two congressional committees, saying in a prepared statement that he wanted to focus on serving his constituents “without distraction.”