ProPublica publishes investigation on Collins-Navatek bribery scheme
1 Yesterday 5:00 AM · 1d ago · 10 articles · 28 posts · 103 comments · 6 sources · development 1 of 5
ProPublica's investigative report, based on internal emails and records, detailed how Navatek's CEO funneled donations through a shell company to Collins' super PAC in exchange for tens of millions in Navy contracts, and how the resulting FBI probe was derailed.
“The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way”
ProPublica
Susan Collins U.S. Senator (R-Maine)Martin Kao Former Navatek CEO
Donald Trump U.S. President
Troy Jackson Democratic candidate for Collins' Senate seatScott Reed Head of pro-Collins super PAC
The whole story articlesvideospostscomments the bright band is this development · numbered dots are the others · click one to jump
What was reported 1 claim about this development
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first by Yahoo News UK, 1d ago · also Yahoo
1 more headline
What people said 24 voices · best of 125 · verbatim
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P
Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵
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New reporting reveals Susan Collins promised a defense contractor tens of millions of dollars worth of government contracts in exchange for a $150,000 campaign donation. The FBI was ready to investigate Collins for bribery until Trump returned to office and purged the agents
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The most corrupt administration in history, enabling more corruption: https://www. propublica.org/article/fbi-sus an-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation # USPol # Corruption # SusanCollins
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NEW: In late 2024, FBI investigators had enough evidence to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. Then Trump was reelected and eviscerated the FBI and DOJ teams handling public corruption probes.
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Simply 🤯 story! In 2024, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation examining interactions between Sen. Susan Collins and a top donor, records and emails show. After Donald Trump returned to office, the investigation died.
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15/ ProPublica is revealing the existence of the case for the first time. We reviewed a trove of evidence gathered by the FBI and thousands of pages of legal records, and have independently corroborated much of Kao’s account. This is the first piece of an ongoing series:
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3/ This is risky. Government contractors are banned from making political contributions. For the company to offer donations to Collins in exchange for an official action, or for Collins to accept, would constitute criminal bribery.
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“Most damningly, Kao told FBI agents and prosecutors, the company’s work for the government was of no real value. Navatek’s research under his stewardship never resulted in products the military wanted to buy, ProPublica found.” https://www. propublica.org/article/fbi-sus an-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation
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2/ Our story starts in 2019. Collins is at risk of losing her seat. A year earlier, she helped Navatek land a multimillion-dollar Navy contract in Maine. Scott Reed, head of the pro-Collins super PAC, meets with Navatek execs in a D.C. cafe and asks for a $500K donation.
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This seems like a pretty big deal: donors made illegal contributions to Susan Collins and then were awarded lucrative contracts after her office intervened with the Navy. An FBI investigation was dropped under Trump.
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In 2024, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation examining interactions between Sen. Susan Collins and a top donor, records and emails show. @propublica.org
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Now I'm wondering how Susan Collins got the money for those pearls she loves to clutch. GRIFTY SUSAN https://www. propublica.org/article/fbi-sus an-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation
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It seems like it goes way beyond Collins. Which explains a lot.
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lol well that explains a lot. https://www. propublica.org/article/fbi-sus an-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation
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Another MASSIVE @propublica.org scoop: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way @williamturton.bsky.social Avi Asher-Schapiro @mtredden.bsky.social @kirstenberg.bsky.social
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Out of curiosity, does the state of Maine not have their own set of campaign finance laws? If they do, could they not continue the investigation, or initiate their own?
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The real welfare queens and terrorists are not coming from other countries, they're right on Capitol Hill, holding office, wearing robes and badges, and running multi billion dollar corporations. All on your dime. Your oppression is their profession. pathological psychopaths.
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I’m going to write her a strongly worded email.
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They do but that woman has a hold on media and the government in the state. You won't see this reporting in PPH or BDN. Collins could steer federal money away if the state government did anything.
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Sen Collins is no doubt VERY CONCERNED about this story coming out. October Surprise comes earlier this year!
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Valueless bastards. We can’t reach across the aisle to these people when they have no values to reach to. They are spineless criminals. Put them in prison.
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Donate monthly. I started to after one of their reports blew my mind. We need them.
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Trump kills any and all legitimate crime-fighting because he’s a criminal himself! The Trump administration is a criminal organization and 33% of this country is still kissing his ass!🤬
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Great work. As always. If Trump wants to ban free press he should have started with you
All 5 developments of ProPublica report ties Sen. Susan Collins to FBI bribery… →
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