# Collins denies corruption allegations as election looms

> Maine senator calls ProPublica report a political hit job ahead of closely watched reelection race.
- Title: Collins denies corruption allegations as election looms
- Summary: Maine senator calls ProPublica report a political hit job ahead of closely watched reelection race. Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins denies ProPublica…
- Keywords: susan collins, maine senate race, propublica, corruption allegations, fbi investigation, navatek, martin kao, troy jackson, news, Collins, denies, corruption
- Source: ABC News — https://abcnews.com/Politics/collins-denies-allegations-corruption-report-absolutely-outrageous/story?id=136685553
- Author: ABC News
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: susan collins, maine senate race, propublica, corruption allegations, fbi investigation, navatek, martin kao, troy jackson, news
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins denies ProPublica allegations that the FBI targeted her in a corruption probe involving defense contracts, calling it a political attack before her reelection campaign.