Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins has strongly rejected allegations emerging from a ProPublica report that suggest the FBI targeted her in a corruption investigation. Describing the claims as “absolutely outrageous,” Collins characterized the reporting as a politically motivated attack.
According to the report, a Republican consultant allegedly solicited substantial donations from Navatek and its former CEO, Martin Kao, for Collins’ campaign in exchange for federal defense contracts worth millions. The article further states that the FBI attempted to initiate an investigation into Collins and the donor in 2024, but the probe stalled after President Donald Trump returned to office and reduced FBI personnel.
On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Collins pointed to prior findings by the Biden administration, which concluded there was no wrongdoing by her campaign staff, her office, or herself.
“This is absolutely outrageous. It’s clearly a political hit job,” Collins said.
Annie Clark, Collins’ deputy chief of staff, asserted that the FBI and Department of Justice conducted a thorough investigation into the Navatek matter during the Biden era. Clark noted that the Collins campaign fully cooperated, providing all requested documents and serving as fact witnesses. She added that the issues were resolved in 2021 and that the FBI has not contacted the campaign regarding Martin Kao since then.
A spokesperson for the FBI, Ben Williamson, confirmed to ProPublica that the agency had investigated the claims against Collins years ago and found nothing implicating the senator or her campaign. Williamson labeled any suggestion to the contrary as “totally false.” He did not address questions regarding the alleged new investigation launched in 2024.
The allegations come at a critical juncture in Collins’ reelection bid. The Maine Senate race is considered a potential swing seat that could influence the balance of power in the upper chamber. Collins expressed frustration that the report was released so close to the election, maintaining that the company was awarded contracts because the Navy found its 3D printing research for boat construction to be valuable.
Clark also issued a statement calling the seven-year-old allegations “categorically false” and emphasized that the campaign was never the target of an FBI investigation. Campaign manager Steve Abbott echoed these sentiments, calling the claims both false and outrageous.
Democratic opponent Troy Jackson seized on the report, stating on Tuesday that “the jig is up” and describing the situation as “corruption of the highest order.”
President Trump has not yet commented on the ProPublica report. ABC News has not independently verified the reporting and has contacted Navatek for comment; Kao did not respond to requests for comment from ProPublica.
If Trump personally reduced the FBI workforce, that explains the stalled probe more than any political hit job narrative.
Corruption allegations every cycle. When does the American voter actually hold someone accountable instead of just shrugging?
My uncle worked federal procurement for years. Those Navatek contracts do look like a classic pump-and-dump scheme.
I find it strange that a stalled investigation would be revived or leaked this perfectly timed. Coincidences are suspicious.
Politics is just theater at this point. Both sides scream ‘false’ while the public loses faith in everything.
Wait, so the FBI investigated this before and found nothing? Then why is it suddenly news now right before an election?