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Senator Susan Collins linked to alleged FBI bribery probe
A ProPublica investigation alleges that a federal bribery probe involving Senator Susan Collins was halted after the FBI's public corruption unit was dismantled. The investigation centered on claims made by Martin Kao, the former CEO of the Hawaiian defense contractor Navatek, who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance crimes.
According to reports, Kao claimed that Navatek used shell companies to funnel donations to a super PAC supporting Senator Collins in exchange for securing millions of dollars in federal defense contracts. Internal company communications suggested that after a meeting in 2019, Kao informed executives that Collins had committed to securing $32 million in naval contracts.
Senator Collins' office has vigorously denied all allegations, describing them as 'outlandish.' A spokesperson noted that the campaign cooperated with investigators and that the FBI previously stated it found nothing implicating the Senator or her campaign. The University of Maine also stated that the company's relationship with the Senator was based on its long-standing ties to the university rather than a pay-to-play scheme.
Entities
Donald Trump · FBI · Martin Kao · Navatek · ProPublica · Susan Collins
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Collins' staff asserted that the connection to Navatek stemmed from the company's relationship with the University of Maine rather than a pay-to-play scheme. www.bangordailynews.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Former Navatek CEO Martin Kao told investigators that the company sought additional federal funding in exchange for political donations. dailyboulder.com · delawareliberal.net · www.nationofchange.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The FBI stated that an earlier investigation found no evidence implicating Senator Susan Collins or her campaign in wrongdoing. njtoday.news · www.themainewire.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] ProPublica reported that FBI investigators had gathered enough evidence by late 2024 to seek a broader bribery investigation involving members of Congress from both parties. dailyboulder.com · njtoday.news
- [● 3 SOURCES] Martin Kao sent an initial $150,000 to a super PAC supporting Senator Susan Collins using a shell company to bypass campaign finance laws. delawareliberal.net · www.nationofchange.org · newrepublic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Internal company emails indicate Martin Kao told Navatek executives that Senator Collins committed to securing $32 million in naval contracts. delawareliberal.net · newrepublic.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Senator Collins’ deputy chief of staff stated that the issues were resolved in 2021 and that the campaign cooperated with investigators. www.themainewire.com · www.bangordailynews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] A ProPublica investigation claims the FBI's public corruption unit was dismantled, halting a potential bribery probe. dailyboulder.com · newrepublic.com