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ProPublica: Cleta Mitchell helped cover up Navatek donation tied to Collins super PAC

Convicted Navatek CEO Martin Kao told the FBI his firm traded donations for earmarks; ProPublica ties Trump ally Cleta Mitchell to a scheme covering up a $150,000 shell-company gift to Sen. Susan Collins.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 1d ago2 pieces2.2k likes & upvotes46 comments MastodonBluesky

What to know

  • ProPublica's report is based on Martin Kao's 2022 statements to the FBI and a 50-page document naming dozens of lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists.
  • Cleta Mitchell, a Ginni Thomas ally who later helped Trump contest the 2020 election, is alleged to have helped design a cover story for an illegal $150,000 donation to Susan Collins' super PAC.
  • The FBI investigation into the scheme reportedly collapsed after Trump-era purges gutted public corruption teams following his return to office.
  • Cleta Mitchell did not respond to requests for comment; her Election Integrity Network and other roles remain active.

“Inside Navatek, Kao shifted into damage control mode. He spoke to [Scott Reed, head of the Collins super PAC] and the super PAC's lawyer, Cleta Mitchell, and began to hatch a cover-up.”

ProPublica, Investigative outlet · ProPublica (via Raw Story) · Sep 21

Martin Kao Former CEO, NavatekCleta MitchellCleta Mitchell Election denier, attorney for Collins' super PACSusan CollinsSusan Collins U.S. Senator (R-ME)Ginni Thomas Political ally of Cleta MitchellJesse Eisinger ProPublica reporter

ProPublica: Cleta Mitchell helped cover up Navatek donation tied to Collins super PAC
rawstory.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage posts

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  1. 1

    ProPublica publishes the Navatek pay-to-play investigation

    ProPublica's report, based on emails and Kao's statements, details the alleged donations-for-earmarks scheme centered on Navatek and Collins, and highlights Cleta Mitchell's role in the cover-up; Raw Story and social media amplify the findings.

    “Don't sleep on the part where we bust Cleta Mitchell (yes, that one) for helping to hatch a campaign finance cover-up…”
    — Jesse Eisinger
    1. 1 outlet Ginni Thomas pal ensnared in alleged campaign finance cover-up: report

      first by Mastodon, 1d ago

    • conifergirl.bsky.social

      A prominent election denier with ties to Ginni Thomas was implicated in a far-reaching corruption plot involving Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). ProPublica reported that Martin Kao, former CEO of the Hawaii-based defense firm Navatek, told FBI agents and

      conifergirl.bsky.socialBluesky1d ago2.2k▲view on Bluesky ↗
  2. background

    Corruption probe collapses after Trump-era purge — The FBI's investigation into Kao's claims fell apart after President Trump returned to office and demanded removal of officials who had investigated him, gutting teams handling public corruption cases.

  3. background

    Kao tells FBI his firm traded donations for earmarks — Facing prison after pleading guilty to finance and fraud charges, Martin Kao told FBI agents and federal prosecutors that Navatek had systematically traded campaign donations for congressional appropriations, naming dozens of lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists in a 50-page document.

  4. background

    Mitchell proposes charitable donations to mask the scheme — An email released through civil litigation shows Cleta Mitchell, lawyer for Collins' super PAC, suggesting the shell entity fund scholarships in Maine to create a credible cover story after the donation drew scrutiny.

  5. background

    Shell company funnels $150,000 to Collins' super PAC — A watchdog group and a Hawaii reporter found a $150,000 donation to Sen. Susan Collins' super PAC came through the 'Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers,' later traced to a shell company linked to Martin Kao's wife.