CNN
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Federal legislation enforcement officers are investigating a US Navy veteran’s allegation that Rep. George Santos raised cash for a lifesaving surgical procedure for his dying canine solely to take off with the cash.
Wealthy Osthoff, the veteran, advised CNN he spoke to a pair of FBI brokers on Wednesday concerning the incident on behalf of the US Legal professional’s Workplace within the Jap District of New York, which is investigating Santos’ funds. Osthoff stated he cooperated with the brokers’ requests, together with handing over his textual content message exchanges with Santos.
CNN has reached Santos’ lawyer for remark. Santos didn’t reply to questions concerning the matter when requested by reporters on Capitol Hill on Wednesday and a spokesperson for the US lawyer’s workplace for the Jap District of New York declined to remark.
Politico first reported the event.
Osthoff advised CNN final month that in 2016 Santos promised to lift funds for his pit bull, Sapphire. Osthoff stated on the time he was homeless and residing in a tent after shedding his job and home.
Santos arrange a GoFundMe which finally raised round $3,000. A put up from the Fb profile of George Devolder on the time hyperlinks to a GoFundMe elevating surgical procedure funds for the canine.
Osthoff stated Santos turned uncooperative when he tried to entry the GoFundMe cash.
Santos, a New York Republican, advised CNN in January that he had “no clue” what Osthoff was speaking about and defended his work with animals.
Textual content messages supplied to CNN by Osthoff additionally present his exchanges with Santos in 2016.
“Hey Anthony, Wealthy right here. I hoped to listen to from you. Simply checking whether or not you made contact with the vet,” Osthoff writes in a single textual content to Santos, who was going by the title Anthony Devolder on the time.
Santos replies that he “simply referred to as” Osthoff and he’s been “leaping via hoops.” He provides, “They don’t seem to be as versatile as you stated they had been,” apparently talking concerning the vet Osthoff referenced.
Santos additionally writes {that a} vet “had already dominated out the surgical procedure with out the ultrasound as a result of based mostly on his expertise he thinks it’s very invasive,” however he tells Osthoff he’ll take the canine to a vet to get an ultrasound “to present you piece of thoughts.”
After Osthoff says, “I’m beginning to really feel preferred [SIC] I used to be mined for my household and buddies donations,” Santos tells him that, as a result of his canine is just not a candidate for surgical procedure, “the funds are moved to the following animal in want and we are going to make sure that we use of [SIC] sources to maintain her snug!”