ProPublica report ties Sen. Susan Collins to FBI bribery probe halted by Trump
Collins denies allegations that a defense contractor funneled donations to her campaign in exchange for federal contracts, after Trump-era cuts killed the FBI inquiry.
What to know
- ProPublica reported that FBI investigators had enough evidence by late 2024 to launch a sweeping bribery probe implicating Sen. Susan Collins and other lawmakers.
- The probe involved allegations that Navatek's CEO funneled a $150,000 donation through a shell company to Collins' super PAC in exchange for tens of millions in Navy contracts.
- The investigation collapsed after Trump was reelected and dismantled the FBI and DOJ units handling public corruption cases; no one working for Collins was charged.
- Collins denies the allegations as a 'partisan hit job,' while Democrats, including her opponent Troy Jackson, are using the report to attack her ahead of a tight 2026 Senate race.
The dispute Some commenters see the story as proof Collins personally engaged in bribery and should be removed, while others frame it as evidence of a systemic, bipartisan pay-to-play culture that Trump exploited rather than something unique to Collins. · positions read across 455 posts and comments
Collins is guilty of corruption and should face consequences, including losing office or prosecution.
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“She is guilty. Sue lies. She needs to be fired. Period.”
dogsaresocool.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
The scheme extends beyond Collins to other lawmakers of both parties, and Trump killed the probe to protect himself.
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“It seems like it goes way beyond Collins. Which explains a lot.”
ljohn44.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
Voters won't punish Collins regardless, so the revelations may not change the race's outcome.
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“From what I've seen on TV focus groups, many Mainers won't care as long as she continues securing funds for their local libraries.”
abbri2000.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
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
Ro Khanna U.S. Representative (D-Calif.)
How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments
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ProPublica debunks Collins' denials point by point
ProPublica published a follow-up piece rebutting Collins' defense, saying she has offered 'a series of incorrect and misleading claims' in response to the original investigation.
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1 outlet first by Mastodon, 3h ago · read ↗
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NEW: ProPublica revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations — until Trump gutted the unit in charge. Collins has since mustered a defense with a series of incorrect and misleading claims.
2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
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Susan Collins isn't just a pretend-moderate Republican who's supported almost every catastrophic Trump policy and nominee (including all the current radical-right Supreme Court "justices"). She's also corrupt as hell. https://www. propublica.org/article/fbi-sus an-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation?ref=levernews.com Fine reporting…
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Maine Democrats on Wednesday assailed U.S. Sen. Susan Collins over a news report that the FBI investigated how much she knew about illegal campaign contributions that sent one of her donors to prison.
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Collins denies the allegations as a 'partisan hit job'
Collins publicly rejected the report, calling it 'offensive' and questioning the credibility of Martin Kao, a twice-convicted felon, while her office called the bribery claims 'categorically false.'
“I do not understand how anyone would take the word of a felon who's been convicted twice — twice — two separate cases of five counts of money laundering…”
— Sen. Susan Collins -
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⚡ NEWS Democrats Accuse Susan Collins of Corruption Following ProPublica Report Democrats in Maine have accused Republican Senator Susan Collins of corruption after ProPublica reported that the FBI proposed investigating her for alleged bribery before Donald Trump intervened. The report details allegations that Collins's Super PAC solicited…
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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⚡ NEWS FBI Investigation into Congressional Pay-for-Play Scheme Involving Sen. Collins NPR reports that FBI records indicate a potential congressional pay-for-play scheme involving defense contractor connections and Senator Susan Collins of Maine. The investigation suggests past law enforcement scrutiny into these financial ties, raising…
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Maine Democrats formally hammer Collins over the report
Maine Democrats publicly assailed Collins over the ProPublica report detailing the FBI probe into her ties to Navatek and its convicted CEO.
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first by The Daily Boulder, 10h ago · also MS NOW, Techdirt, Honolulu Civil Beat, Salon, ProPublica, Talking Points Memo +1
2 more headlines
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For Maine voters this shouldn't even be a close race it should be a total blue wipeout for Collins and total victory for troy Jackson etc
2 more of the top 3 · 21 posts in this stretch
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FBI Eyed Susan Collins Over Defense Contractor’s Donations — ProPublica After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump administration dismantled the unit handling the inquiry. — Read on…
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If Maine reelects this corrupt woman, they are beyond help.
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Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna and Troy Jackson, attack Collins
Democrats seized on the report to attack Collins ahead of the 2026 Senate race; her opponent Troy Jackson called the report 'corruption of the highest order' and Rep. Ro Khanna accused Trump of covering up the probe to protect an ally.
“Susan Collins was being investigated by the FBI for alleged bribery. Trump came in and covered it up. Collins may pretend to be a moderate, but on corruption, she's a MAGA Republican.”
— Rep. Ro Khanna -
first by Forbes, 1d ago · also Bangor Daily News
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- Troy Jackson accuses Susan Collins of corruption following ProPublica report Bangor Daily News · 1d ago
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first by Newsweek, 10h ago
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The senator’s office has “vigorously” denied any wrongdoing, while Collins’ opponent Troy Jackson called the report “corruption of the highest order.”
2 more of the top 3 · 298 posts in this stretch
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Susan Collins was being investigated by the FBI for alleged bribery. Trump came in and covered it up. Collins may pretend to be a moderate, but on corruption, she’s a MAGA Republican. That’s why we need @TroyJackson207 to win and help us take the Senate.
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Susan Collins is a criminal who put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court. 'Incredible Story of Corruption': Bombshell Report Puts Susan Collins at Center of Massive Bribery Scheme | Common Dreams https://www. commondreams.org/news/incredib le-story-of-corruption-bombshell-report-puts-susan-collins-at-center-of-massive-bribery-scheme #…
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ProPublica publishes investigation on Collins-Navatek bribery scheme
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 -
first by Yahoo News UK, 1d ago · also Yahoo
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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 🧵
2 more of the top 3 · 125 posts in this stretch
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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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background
Trump administration guts FBI/DOJ public-corruption units — After Trump was reelected, his administration dismantled the FBI and DOJ teams handling public corruption probes, and the investigation into Collins and Navatek died without charges against her office.
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background
FBI amasses evidence for sweeping bribery probe including Collins — By late 2024, FBI investigators had gathered enough evidence to pursue a wide-ranging bribery investigation that could have ensnared top lawmakers of both parties, including Collins.
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Navatek CEO Martin Kao is indicted, later cooperates with FBI — A grand jury indicted Navatek CEO Martin Kao for illegal campaign contributions; facing prison, he later gave FBI agents and prosecutors a detailed account of a broader pay-to-play scheme involving dozens of lobbyists, staffers and members of Congress.
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background
Collins super PAC head solicits $500K from Navatek executives — Facing a tough 2020 reelection, Scott Reed, head of the pro-Collins super PAC, met Navatek executives at a D.C. coffee shop and asked for a $500,000 donation; Navatek's CEO wanted assurance Collins would secure tens of millions in federal contracts in return.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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5 outlets Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it ‘totally false’
first by Orlando Sentinel, 8h ago · also Baltimore Sun, Mercury News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Associated Press
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first by CNN, 3h ago · also Maine Public, WBUR
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3 outlets Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. GOP senator calls it 'completely false'
first by PBS NewsHour, 4h ago · also Scripps News, Associated Press
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3 outlets Susan Collins, We’re Deeply Concerned
first by Mastodon, 9h ago · also Fox News, The Status Kuo
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first by Truthout, 1d ago · also New Republic, Rolling Stone
3 more headlines
- Senator Susan Collins Was Under Investigation By FBI for Bribery TMZ.com · 1d ago
- FBI Was Targeting Susan Collins in Bombshell Bribery Probe—Until Trump New Republic · 1d ago
- Susan Collins Was Target of Federal Bribery Case ... Until Trump Gutted the FBI Rolling Stone · 1d ago
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first by Mediaite, 1d ago · also Boston Globe, Newsweek
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first by Lawyers, Guns & Money, 1d ago · also Yahoo, MS NOW
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first by Guardian US, 5h ago · also Guardian
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first by Mastodon, 2d ago
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and 9 smaller pieces
What people are saying 13 voices from 4 sites · best of 455 · verbatim
- Could Maine's own campaign finance authorities pursue an investigation now that the federal probe has been killed?
- Will the report actually change the outcome of Collins' 2026 reelection race?
- Today
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The FBI was surveilling Trump-proxy & US Senator Susan Collins in a sting with Navatek, a defense contractor who'd been involved with donations to Collins. Then Don Trump deleted the secret FBI corruption taskforce before she could be detained. Now Collins is defending herself with a stack of claims which are both incorrect and misleading. Don…
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It looks like Sen. Susan Collins has her own corruption scandal: "ProPublica published a report tying Sen. Susan Collins to a defense contractor whose CEO secretly routed money to her super PAC while her office helped steer federal contracts his way. If the allegations bear out, this was an illegal pay-to-play scheme": https://…
- Yesterday
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BREAKING: Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle https://www. forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/ 2026/09/22/susan-collins-bribery-report-throws-wrench-into-razor-thin-senate-battle/
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An alleged political bribery operation was under investigation by the FBI, with names like Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican lawmaker from Maine, in the mix. Then Donald Trump got into office and — poof — it all went away. Here's an exhaustive investigation by @ ProPublica that reveals the existence of the case for the first time. https://…
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It'd be weird for Maine Republicans to cheat only for a single Senate seat; everything else up there (governor, both House seats, the other Senator, the state legislature) is currently controlled by liberal politicians.
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This is why SuperPACs are a horrible idea. There's no way in hell they're ever arms-length from the candidate. Sure, for legal purposes the paperwork makes it appear that way, but everyone fucking knows that if you make a huge donation to a SuperPAC, the candidate that PAC is affiliated with is 100% aware of your donation. Therefore, all a…
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Isn't this defense contractor her brother who has exclusive rights to sell engineered wood for dod?
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Susan Collins claims she delivers for Maine. But “You’ve seen me deliver” was Collins’ message to a defense contractor as she pursued illegal campaign contributions, according to a new @propublica.org report.
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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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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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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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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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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.