FBI probe circled Senator Susan Collins
The gist
ProPublica reported the FBI circled Senator Susan Collins over alleged campaign finance violations.
The report lands 42 days before her reelection bid in a tight Maine race.
How it unfolded
- 2018Martin Kao told investigators he first sought to meet with Collins and was told he needed to make a donation first; during their first meeting Kao pitched an $8 million research grant for Navatek and the University of Maine, and Collins was reportedly receptive. That summer Kao donated to Collins's campaign and Navatek's funding proposal was included in the Senate's defense budget.
- 2019Kao hosted a fundraiser for Collins where he raised over $40,000; less than a month after the event the Senate's defense budget draft included $21.6 million for Navatek's projects in Maine.
- 2020Collins ran for reelection; her super PAC funneled hundreds of thousands of donation dollars from Navatek.