Sources: FBI contacted veteran who claims Santos stole money for sick dog

Rep. George Santos told media outlets that he never met the veteran and has no knowledge about the FBI investigation.

News 12 Staff

Feb 2, 2023, 6:16 PM

Updated 689 days ago

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Sources tell News 12 that the FBI has contacted the veteran who claimed Rep. George Santos stole money meant for his sick dog.
The Navy veteran, Richard Osthoff, claims Santos stole thousands from an online fundraiser.
The money was supposed to go toward life-changing surgery for the veteran's dying service dog.
Osthoff, who was homeless at the time, says he never saw any of the money and that his dog died shortly after.
A mentor and friend of Osthoff, Michael Boll, told News 12 that the veteran was contacted by the FBI on Wednesday.
"He shared every detail that he could about this horrible incident that occurred between him and George Santos," Boll says.
Osthoff took to social media to warn people about the Friends of Pets United Charity.
"I don't want you to ever hurt anybody like you hurt me again, George," Osthoff said on social media.
Boll, who is also president of the New Jersey Veterans Network, says Osthoff just wants justice from the situation.
Santos told media outlets that he never met the veteran and has no knowledge about the FBI investigation.
News 12 reached out to the FBI, which said in a statement it can "neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation."
News 12 also tried reaching out to Santos' lawyer but has not heard back.