"Had to be in the limelight": George Santos' GoFundMe dog scheme explained as lawmaker comes under fire yet again

Republican lawmaker George Santos is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly stealing $3000 raised in a GoFundMe campaign for a homeless Navy veteran's dog. The pitbull, named Sapphire, was suffering from cancer and ultimately died a year later.The vet, Richard Osthoff, who was homeless at the time after losing his home and job, spoke to federal officers on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, who were investigating Santos' finances.While the GoFundMe page has since been taken down, Osthoff claims that the lawmaker never handed him the money and the ploy delayed the procedure that could have saved Sapphire's life.Internet users were left horrified after news of Santos' fraud spread. User @hughan01 stated:Lynn Hughan🌻@hughan01@MikeSington He just had to be in the limelight.@MikeSington He just had to be in the limelight.Richard Osthoff shared his text conversations with Anthony Devolder, an alias of George Santos, with FBIAccording to Richard Osthoff, two FBI officers contacted him on behalf of the Eastern District of New York’s U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding the ongoing investigation into George Santos' finances. In 2016 the lawmaker had set up a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign for Oshtoff's pet.The Navy vet, who suffers from severe PTSD, expressed his relief, stating:&quot;I’m glad to get the ball rolling with the big-wigs... (I was) worried that what happened to me was too long ago to be prosecuted.&quot;Osthoff with Sapphire (Image via Facebook/@Richard Osthoff)Osthoff, looking to raise money for the treatment of Sapphire, reached out to Friends of Pets United, an organization led by George Santos under the alias Anthony Devolder. (On January 14, 2023, a video surfaced online where Santos' introduced himself as Anthony Devolder at a pro-Trump LGBTQ rally.)According to the vet, Santos allegedly helped raise around $3000 in donations and then disappeared with the money. He added that the New York lawmaker deleted the GoFundMe page.According to The New York Times, Santos claimed Friends of Pets United was a &quot;tax-exempt charity organization&quot; that the Republicans founded in 2013.&quot; However, the IRS could not find any records of a charity under the name.Text messages shared by the veteran show Santos, under the alias Anthony Devolder, stopped answering his texts. The lawmaker urged him to visit a clinic in New York where he had &quot;credit,&quot; but they said they &quot;couldn't operate the tumor.&quot;George Santos (Image via Getty Images)In a final conversation between the two, Santos stated that the funds would be &quot;used for other dogs.&quot; He wrote:&quot;Sapphire is not a candidate for this surgery the funds are moved to the next animal in need and we will make sure we use of resources to keep her comfortable!&quot;Sapphire was euthanized after her health deteriorated.&quot;I hope this dude ends up in jail&quot;: Santos leaves netizens in a furyAs news of the republican lawmaker's charity fraud spread, internet users took to social media to express their disgust and horror.They claimed it was a felony and demanded that Santos be sent to jail for his &quot;shameful and shameless&quot; actions. They remarked that the various controversies surrounding him were enough for him to step down from his congressional duties.One user, Janet Harris, @ThinkUpstream, remarked that of all the scandals surrounding the lawmaker, one to take him down should be stealing a veteran's dog's GoFundMe donations.Janet Harris, M.P.Aff.@ThinkUpstreamOf all the George Santos scandals, I really, really want the one that brings him down to be stealing a veteran’s dog’s GoFundMe donations.61Of all the George Santos scandals, I really, really want the one that brings him down to be stealing a veteran’s dog’s GoFundMe donations.Here are some comments seen on Twitter about George Santos' latest investigation:Ryan Shead@RyanSheadFBI is reportedly investigating Rep. George Santos' role in an alleged GoFundMe scheme involving a disabled U.S. Navy veteran's dying service dog.I hope this dude ends up in jail. 39962FBI is reportedly investigating Rep. George Santos' role in an alleged GoFundMe scheme involving a disabled U.S. Navy veteran's dying service dog.I hope this dude ends up in jail. 💯Les Misérables 🇨🇦 🇺🇦@lbpyyz@MikeSington Shameful and shameless@MikeSington Shameful and shamelessBrigitte R.@iambrigGeorge?Santos? is making $174,000 of someone else's $ who is worthy of the seat he stole. Just like the GoFundMe money he stole from a veteran's dying dog that could've been saved. How, how, how, is this imposter still seated in a position HE STOLE?#GeorgeSantosMustResign.103George?Santos? is making $174,000 of someone else's $ who is worthy of the seat he stole. Just like the GoFundMe money he stole from a veteran's dying dog that could've been saved. How, how, how, is this imposter still seated in a position HE STOLE?#GeorgeSantosMustResign.Johnson J@DuhartKimberlieFBI is investigating George Santos for a go fund me account that he had to pay for a vets dying dog. He raised 3 thousand for a operation 4 a dog that had a huge tumor but didnt use the money for the dogs operation. Is that a felony? Should be able to get him out of Congress?128FBI is investigating George Santos for a go fund me account that he had to pay for a vets dying dog. He raised 3 thousand for a operation 4 a dog that had a huge tumor but didnt use the money for the dogs operation. Is that a felony? Should be able to get him out of Congress?Wall Street Petting Zoo@WSPZooDog charity fraud? Defrauding humans is one thing, but now George Santos has gone too far.1Dog charity fraud? Defrauding humans is one thing, but now George Santos has gone too far.Dr. Vincent O’Boogie@VinceOBoogieListening to the veteran who lost his dog because of George Santos was brutal. I cannot believe this dude made it into congress without anyone catching what a fraud he was.Listening to the veteran who lost his dog because of George Santos was brutal. I cannot believe this dude made it into congress without anyone catching what a fraud he was.Keith Van Cortlandt@BronxyBoy666George Santos stealing the $$$ from a dying dog's GoFundMe tells you everything you need to know about Republicans from New York.1George Santos stealing the $$$ from a dying dog's GoFundMe tells you everything you need to know about Republicans from New York.Mash B@AbiolaMash@MikeSington One fraud after the other@MikeSington One fraud after the otherAchtung@Achtung43214471George Santos stole 5k from a go fund me account that he started to help a man’s sick dog. Dog died man never saw a penny of the money to help his dog! Isn’t that a FELONY??? That should be jail time. Get him out of our government.George Santos stole 5k from a go fund me account that he started to help a man’s sick dog. Dog died man never saw a penny of the money to help his dog! Isn’t that a FELONY??? That should be jail time. Get him out of our government.George Santos was in the news recently after the Nassau County Republican Committee demanded he resign for doctoring his resume and claiming to be a descendant of Holocaust survivors.He maintained that he was unaware of any FBI investigation related to the charity.

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