Senator Susan Collins of Maine rejected allegations that she exchanged federal contracts for campaign funds, characterizing the claims as unfounded and previously examined by multiple agencies. The Republican lawmaker, who is seeking reelection, stated that ethics investigations by the Department of Justice, FBI, and Federal Election Commission had already determined the allegations lacked merit.
According to reporting by ProPublica in September, former Navatek chief executive Martin Kao claimed his defense contracting firm secured federal funding by providing financial support to politicians, with Collins as a key recipient. Kao, who is serving an 87-month sentence for fraud and campaign finance offenses, told authorities he was asked for $500,000 in 2019 and subsequently funneled $150,000 through a shell company, after which Collins’s office allegedly promised to secure $32 million in naval contracts. ProPublica stated it reviewed FBI evidence and court records and independently corroborated portions of Kao’s account.
Collins countered that she backed research funding only because the University of Maine requested her support, and that she was unfamiliar with Kao or Navatek before their interactions. She characterized Kao as dishonest and noted that photos showed his meeting with her office staff preceded any campaign contributions. The senator also stated she had not been interviewed about the allegations and dismissed the recent ethics complaint as politically motivated.
ProPublica reported that FBI agents initiated a broader bribery investigation in 2024, though it was subsequently halted. No charges were filed against anyone associated with Collins’s office. Reed, who chairs Collins’s Super Pac, denied having discussions about Kao or Navatek with the senator or her staff.
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