George Santos involved in yet another dog-related scandal

Washington DC - Another day, another revelation from New York Representative George Santos' checkered past, as his bizarre history with dogs gets another chapter.

New York Representative George Santos was reportedly charged with theft over bad checks made out to Pennsylvania dog breeders.
New York Representative George Santos was reportedly charged with theft over bad checks made out to Pennsylvania dog breeders.  © Collage: 123RF/diego_cervo & REUTERS

On Santos' endless list of shady actions and outright lies, a variation on a theme is emerging: the Republican's penchant for schemes involving dogs.

Back in January, he was accused by a disabled veteran of setting using a charity under an alias to raise funds for the former Navy man's dying service dog, only to then make off with the money in 2016.

At the time, Santos denied the allegations, but now he's got some more explaining to do. Per a Politico report, a year after that incident, the 34-year-old was charged with theft for bounced checks worth $15,000 written in his name to dog breeders.

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The bad payments for "puppies" were made in Pennsylvania Amish Country days before Santos set up a pet adoption event in Staten Island, through his charity Friends of Pets United.

Santos was almost extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges

George Santos was called "one sick puppy" by Utah Senator Mitt Romney (bottom, r.)
George Santos was called "one sick puppy" by Utah Senator Mitt Romney (bottom, r.)  © REUTERS

With the checks bouncing, Pennsylvania authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, but couldn't serve it until two years later, when the NYPD received a request for extradition.

According to attorney and former schoolmate Tiffany Bogosian, who spoke to Politico, Santos asked for her advice after cops knocked on his door in 2019 to notify him of the charges. She helped him navigate the process of getting the case dropped, on the basis that the bad checks written in his name had actually been stolen from him.

It's still not clear exactly what led to the Pennsylvania State Police discontinuing the charges, but Bogosian told Politico that she no longer believes a word Santos had to say about the case.

This whole murky episode adds yet another layer of meaning to GOP Senator Mitt Romney's quip that his new colleague in Congress is "one sick puppy."

Cover photo: Collage: 123RF/diego_cervo & REUTERS

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