CNN
Navy veteran Richard Osthoff choked up while claiming Rep. George Santos scammed him out of money intended to keep his dying service pooch alive … he says the dog saved his life.
Osthoff recalled his alleged history with the freshman legislator from NY — who’s already fessed up to lying about his work experience and education — in an interview with CNN, getting emotional as he told his story … with his late dog’s ashes in a box next to him.
The Navy vet says his pooch, Sapphire, saved his life when he was in a dark place after first getting out of the service … and he’s convinced he wouldn’t be alive today without the dog.
Osthoff says Santos offered to help get the dog a life-saving medical procedure several years ago … when Santos was going by his alias, Anthony Devolder … but says he never saw a dime of the $3,000 Santos raised online.
Instead, Osthoff claims he actually lost money in his dealings with Santos … another blow to the homeless Navy vet who says he watched his dog die instead of being saved.
For his part, Santos is denying the allegations … claiming he has dozens of folks who would go on the record saying Santos saved their dogs and cats.
But Osthoff says he won’t believe Santos without proof.