Susan Collins Calls Contract-for-Cash Allegations 'Completely False'
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has dismissed allegations that she traded federal contracts for campaign cash as "completely false."
Collins, a Republican from Maine campaigning to retain her seat ahead of November's midterm elections, issued the denial as the claims drew renewed attention. The FBI examined the claims, The Guardian reported. An ethics complaint raising the matter was filed last week by a Maine attorney.
The claims center on Martin Kao, the former president and CEO of defense contractor Navatek, who is serving 87 months for fraud and campaign finance crimes. ProPublica reported in September that Kao told FBI agents and prosecutors that Navatek won millions in federal funding by bankrolling politicians, naming Collins as his most important patron.
Kao claimed the head of Collins's Super PAC, a fundraising group that supports candidates, asked him for $500,000 in 2019 and that he sent $150,000 through a shell company. He also claimed Collins's office promised to secure $32 million in naval contracts. The Senate allocated at least $10 million in 2019 based on Navatek's proposals.
Collins said the bribery allegations were recycled from 2020 and had been rejected by the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. She said she had never heard of Navatek and that the University of Maine, not the company, had asked her to back a research grant. "I was never even interviewed because there was no evidence for it," she said.
Scott Reed, chair of the Super PAC, denied discussing Kao or Navatek with Collins or her staff. No one in Collins's orbit was charged in the Navatek matter, though FBI agents sought to open a broader bribery investigation in 2024.
Maine attorney Adams, a Democrat, filed an ethics complaint asking the Senate to investigate the bribery claims, WGME reported. The complaint cited allegations that her campaign sought an illegal $150,000 payment. Separately, more than 250 Maine residents asked the state attorney general to investigate the allegations, Maine Morning Star reported. Navatek pleaded guilty in 2022 to illegal campaign contributions involving a pro-Collins super PAC.
