ProPublica alleges corruption scheme

ProPublica reported that a Republican consultant asked defense firm Navatek and its former CEO Martin Kao for big donations to Collins' campaign in exchange for millions in federal contracts.

FBI investigation reportedly died under Trump

In two thousand twenty-four, the FBI sought to launch an investigation into Collins and the donor, but when President Donald Trump returned to office for his second term, the investigation died after he made cuts to the FBI.

Collins calls report a political hit job

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins vehemently denied the ProPublica report on Tuesday, saying it's clearly a political hit job and absolutely outrageous.

“It's clearly a political hit job.”

Biden Justice Department found no wrongdoing

Collins said the Biden Justice Department found no wrongdoing by her campaign staff, office, or herself. Her deputy chief of staff Annie Clark said the campaign cooperated fully with the FBI throughout the investigation.

“The Biden Justice Department found that there was no wrongdoing by any one of my campaign staff, my office, or me.”

FBI says it found nothing implicating Collins

FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told ProPublica that the agency had investigated the claims against Collins years ago and ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or her campaign.

“ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or Senator Collins' campaign.”

Collins defends Navatek contract awards

Collins maintained that Navatek was awarded defense contracts because the Navy found its three D printing research to build boats to be valuable, not because of campaign donations.

Opponent Jackson calls it corruption

Collins' Democratic opponent in the Maine Senate race, Troy Jackson, reacted to the report saying the jig is up and called it corruption of the highest order.

“This is corruption of the highest order.”