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Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins is pushing back on a ProPublica investigation reporting that a convicted defense contractor told the FBI his company routed money to a super PAC supporting her, Fox News reports.
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Shop NowAccording to ProPublica, Martin Kao, former CEO of the contractor Navatek, told agents his company funneled $150,000 through a shell company to a super PAC backing Collins’ 2020 reelection.
ProPublica says emails show the super PAC’s head, Scott Reed, knew of the arrangement, and that a 2019 email from a naval officer shows Collins had advocated for Navatek.
Collins attacked Kao’s credibility. “He is a convicted liar,” she told the Wall Street Journal, citing his convictions for money laundering, bank fraud and false submissions to the FEC. She said the Justice Department and FBI “totally cleared my office, my campaign, and me five years ago.”
ProPublica reports a new investigation was opened in 2024. The FBI did not respond to its questions about that probe.
Kao cooperated hoping for a reduced sentence, but the judge gave him no leniency.
In an interview with Punchbowl News, Collins called the report a “political hit job,” blaming Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. She is in a heated reelection race against Democrat Troy Jackson.
Click here to read the full story on Fox News
