Watch: We Uncovered Bribery Allegations Involving Susan Collins

In late 2024, FBI investigators initiated a bribery investigation that may involve prominent politicians, including Sen. Susan Collins. The probe centered around interactions between Collins and Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek.

According to Kao, a top aide of Collins met with him in 2019 and requested a $500,000 donation from Navatek. Government contractors are prohibited from making political contributions, so offering the donation in exchange for official action by Collins or receiving one from her would be considered criminal bribery. To avoid campaign finance laws and hide the source of the funds, Kao initially transferred $150,000 to a super PAC using a shell company, citing prior approval from his lawyer.

The super PAC's head was aware of Kao's involvement. Upon receiving the donation, the head of the super PAC responded, "Very smart," in an email revealed by ProPublica.

Subsequently, Kao informed his team that Collins had agreed to secure $32 million in naval contracts for Navatek. However, the FBI discovered Kao's scheme through his shell company ruse. In 2022, Kao was indicted for making illegal campaign contributions, and Kao informed the FBI about the entire scheme to potentially lessen his sentence.

The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad had been closely monitoring Collins, but their investigation was halted after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, which led to the dismantling of the FBI and Department of Justice teams dealing with public corruption cases. ProPublica exposed the case for the first time. Collins' deputy chief of staff vigorously denied the allegations of bribery and pay-for-play made by Kao, stating that her office fully cooperated with the FBI.

After the publication of ProPublica's story, Collins made a defense filled with incorrect and misleading claims, labeling the reporting as a "smear job" that prioritized the words of a twice-convicted felon over her office, campaign staff, and herself.

ProPublica analyzed evidence collected by the FBI, thousands of pages of legal records, and interviews with various individuals acquainted with Navatek, its Washington operations, and the FBI inquiry to conduct its own investigation. The White House directed inquiries to the FBI, which responded that "nothing implicating Senator Collins" or her campaign was found.

The FBI spokesperson refrained from commenting on the fresh phase of the investigation initiated by Kao's account. Steven Loui, Navatek's founder, termed Kao's tactics "unethical and illegal" and affirmed that the company adhered to the law.