Story perspectives

ProPublica Report Alleges Collins Pay-to-Play With Navatek, Kao

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 10:44 PM UTC · How we work

Center

FBI Clears Collins

ProPublica released a report accusing Senator Susan Collins of a pay-to-play scheme with defense contractor Navatek and donor Martin Kao.
The FBI investigated, found no evidence against Collins, and ended the probe after President Donald Trump took office.
Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson labeled the accusations “corruption of the highest order.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the allegations a political hit-job.

Left

Trump Stops Investigation

ProPublica released a report alleging Senator Susan Collins took part in a pay-to-play scheme with defense contractor Navatek and donor Martin Kao.
The report stresses Navatek’s contracts gave Maine minimal benefit, suggesting public resources were exchanged for campaign contributions.
FBI records reviewed by ProPublica show agents found Kao’s allegations credible despite his conviction.
President Donald Trump removed agents and DOJ attorneys overseeing the case in 2025, stopping it.

History

Historical Context

The 1972 Watergate break-in, culminating in President Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation, exposed how executive interference can derail federal investigations. The FBI’s 5-man team compiled over 1,000 pages of evidence, yet the Special Prosecutor’s office was dismissed by Nixon in 1973. Today's allegations against Senator Susan Collins echo Watergate’s pay-to-play claims, with ProPublica, the FBI, and the Trump administration mirroring past partisan shutdowns. The episode reinforces that political patronage scandals can reshape Senate oversight, prompting future ethics reforms and heightened public scrutiny.

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FBI Clears Collins

ProPublica released a report accusing Senator Susan Collins of a pay-to-play scheme with defense contractor Navatek and donor Martin Kao.
The FBI investigated, found no evidence against Collins, and ended the probe after President Donald Trump took office.
Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson labeled the accusations “corruption of the highest order.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the allegations a political hit-job.

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