A newly released report puts Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, at the center of an FBI probe into possible campaign finance law violations
The report from ProPublica reveals the FBI previously looked into allegations of a “pay-to-play” scheme involving a defense contractor.
According to the outlet, Martin Kao, the former CEO of naval defense contractor Navatek, claimed he funneled campaign donations to lawmakers in exchange for lucrative contracts. ProPublica identified Collins as the most significant lawmaker named in the alleged arrangement.
Documents and interviews cited in the report claim that after meeting with Collins’ political team, Kao directed a $150,000 super PAC donation through a shell company. In return, Collins allegedly helped secure $32 million in naval contracts for Navatek, meeting directly with Kao and noting <a href="https://bitcomme.com/toyota-financial-security-officer-pushes-back-on-bad-code/” title=”Toyota Financial security officer pushes back on bad code”>financial support was expected.
Kao, who was later convicted on campaign finance charges, detailed the alleged scheme to federal agents to reduce his sentence.
ProPublica reports the FBI was preparing an investigation before anti-corruption efforts stalled and key investigators left the agency after President Trump was elected again.
Collins’ Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Clark released a statement that reads in part:
“The seven-year-old allegations made against Senator Collins and her staff in this piece are categorically false. 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.
ProPublica took the word of someone who pled guilty to five counts of money laundering, three counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and making false submissions to the FEC.“
Collins’ Democratic opponent Troy Jackson weighed in saying in part:
“This is corruption of the highest order. Susan Collins doesn’t care that we’re losing our health care, that ICE is killing people on the streets, and that we’ve been dragged into a pointless war — as long as her donors get their contracts and her coffers get filled. We deserve answers about every contract and every conversation that Collins and her team facilitated on the backs of taxpayers. The jig is up.”
University of Maine Political Science Chair Mark Brewer read the report today and says this report, regardless of its validity, is ammunition for Troy Jackson.
“Often times is politics reality matters less than perception. Now this story is out there it gives Collins opponents the opportunity to stick this to her. If people react to that and believe it than that will be a disadvantage to her for sure.”
Brewer says that in a race like this it’s going to be all about winning the margins and if this accusation fades away in a rapidly changing news cycle.
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