Full Breakdown
Collins Faces Pay-to-Play Allegations Amid Tight Senate Race
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Alleged Pay-to-Play Scheme and FBI Probe
On September 22, 2026 ProPublica published a report alleging that a “pay-to-play” arrangement linked Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to Navatek, a Hawaii-based defense contractor. Former Navatek chief executive Martin Kao told FBI agents he donated $150,000 to the senator’s super-PAC through a shell company in 2019 and, in return, Collins used her position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to steer “tens of millions” of federal contracts to Navatek, including an $8 million Navy award and a promised $32 million of additional contracts. The FBI opened a bribery investigation in 2024 based on Kao’s statements, but the probe was closed in 2025 after the Trump administration reshaped the bureau’s anti-corruption unit.
Background & Context
Navatek’s CEO Martin Kao pleaded guilty in 2022 to illegal campaign contributions, money-laundering, wire fraud and bank fraud, receiving an 87-month prison sentence in 2025. Kao’s cooperation began after his guilty plea; he provided a 50-page document naming dozens of lobbyists and lawmakers. Collins, who has chaired the Appropriations Committee since 2023, has highlighted her ability to bring federal dollars to Maine, including a 3-D-printed boat project with the University of Maine that received $8 million from the Navy.
Data & Statistics
- $500,000 requested from Navatek by super-PAC head Scott Reed, according to Kao’s testimony.
- $32 million in naval contracts Kao claimed Collins pledged to secure.
- Navatek ultimately received contracts worth roughly $40 million annually, per the report.
- Total contributions from Navatek and related entities to politicians were estimated at $900,000.
- Polls in September 2026 show the race as a toss-up: RealClearPolitics averages 47.2 % for Democratic challenger Troy Jackson versus 45.4 % for Collins; a Newsweek poll of 644 likely voters (Sept. 15) gave Jackson a 2-point lead (48 % to 46 %).
Official Statements & Responses
The Department of Justice, under the Biden administration, reviewed the Navatek matter and found no evidence of wrongdoing by Collins or her staff.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Kao’s credibility is contested. Multiple sources note that he began providing detailed accusations only after his sentencing, raising questions about his motive to obtain leniency. FBI agents, speaking anonymously, said they “lacked corroborating evidence” for Kao’s claims and that the investigation was “questionable.” ProPublica flagged Kao’s “credibility issues,” and no charges were filed against Collins or any of her staff.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There have never been any allegations of wrongdoing by the Collins for Senator campaign, and the campaign was never the target of the FBI investigation,” — Annie Clark, deputy chief of staff for Collins
- “This is corruption of the highest order,” — Troy Jackson, state senate president
- “We deserve answers about every contract and every conversation that Collins and her team facilitated on the backs of taxpayers,” — Troy Jackson, state senate president
- “Instead of using her power to help Maine people, Susan Collins has been so brazenly steering taxpayer dollars towards her wealthy donors that the FBI took notice — until Trump stuck his thumb on the scale on her behalf,” — Misha Linnehan, press secretary for the Maine Democratic Party
What’s Next
The Collins–Jackson race will feature a televised debate scheduled for October 6, 2026, hosted by Portland station WGME. The Senate election later this month will determine whether the closely divided chamber remains under Republican control. Both campaigns are expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars as the race stays within the margin of error of multiple polls.
