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An investigative report detailed that the FBI’s anti-corruption unit had been looking into an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine and a defense contractor.

The New Republic

The investigation centered around events from 2019, when representatives for Collins’ super PAC met with executives from a Hawaiian defense contractor named Navatek, including then-CEO Martin Kao. According to records and interviews, the contractor allegedly funneled substantial donationsinitially masking a contribution through a shell companyin exchange for securing millions of dollars in federal defense contracts.

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Martin Kao was later convicted in 2022 on campaign finance and bank fraud charges. While cooperating with federal authorities in hopes of a reduced sentence, Kao sat for extensive interviews with the FBI, claiming that the arrangement involved coordinated support and quid pro quo understandings with lawmakers, including Senator Collins.

The New Republic+ 1

Although investigators had reviewed emails and considered broadening the corruption probe, the inquiry ultimately stalled and was effectively dismantled following changes in administration and turnover within the FBI. Senator Collins and her campaign have strongly denied any wrongdoing or participation in a pay-to-play arrangement, labeling the allegations outlandish, and noted that neither the senator nor her staff faced any criminal charges.

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