La. AG Looking Into Allegations Against Red Cross After Hurricane

Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti is investigating complaints that American Red Cross volunteers improperly diverted money and supplies meant for hurricane victims in New Orleans.

Foti spokeswoman Kris Wartelle told The Washington Post that the probe would be announced Monday, March 27. On Friday the Red Cross announced, under pressure from Congress, that it was investigating claims that some of its volunteers engaged in widespread theft in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The Post, citing an unidentified Red Cross official, said the organization has dismissed three of its volunteers who had been involved in food and shelter operations in the city because of “allegations involving waste and abuse.”

Katrina struck southeastern Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Aug. 29. The Red Cross had 235,000 volunteers working in the Katrina disaster area. The charity has said it responded to Katrina the best it could in circumstances almost unimaginable, while acknowledging that it stumbled in “technology, logistics and coordination.”

Foti’s office said earlier this month that it also is looking into complaints against another well-known national charity, the Humane Society of the United States. Wartelle said the office has received complaints that even though the organization had raised millions of dollars, it had not done enough to reunite Katrina evacuees with their pets.

Wayne Pacelle, president and executive director of the organization, has said the nonprofit charity has done nothing wrong and is cooperating fully.