The FBI is speaking with a Navy veteran who recently alleged that Rep. George Santos, RN.Y., essentially stole thousands of dollars from an online fundraising campaign intended to cover his dog’s life-saving surgery. of service.
Richard Osthoff told NBC News on Wednesday that he had been on the phone with the FBI and provided all requested records and information, including text messages dating back to his exchanges with Santos in 2016 about raising $3,000 for his dog. Sapphire.
«I’m elated that the big guys finally picked it up,» Osthoff said. «I turned in all my text messages and am in the process of turning in everything related to the GoFundMe campaign.»
political first reported about the scope of the FBI investigation. An FBI spokesman in New York declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the Eastern District of New York.
Osthoff’s allegations drew national attention after Patch.com first reported about his claims that funds Santos helped raise on GoFundMe through a charity group linked to the lawmaker were never made available.
Osthoff later said in an NBC News interview that Santos helped him launch the fundraiser, but he began «making all these excuses» about the money and ultimately refused to hand over the funds.
Santos’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Osthoff said she believes the funds would have saved her dog’s life.
In December, two federal law enforcement sources confirmed that federal prosecutors in New York had opened an investigation into Santos and were examining his finances, including possible wrongdoing related to financial disclosures and loans he made to his campaign while running for Congress.
The investigation by federal prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York is one in a series of investigations into the embattled New York Republican.
Santos is also linked to an investigation by the Nassau County district attorney’s office and the state attorney general’s office that has said it is «investigating a number of issues» related to the congressman.
After dodging questions from reporters about apparent fabrications of his biography and qualifications that first came to light for The New York Times, Santos said Tuesday that he would recuse himself from a pair of assignments on the Small Business and Science committees amid multiple investigations.
Santos has admitted to lying about parts of his background and has faced numerous calls to resign from Congress, but has repeatedly told reporters that he is not considering leaving office.