Navatek federal contracts bribery probe
The gist
Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek, told the FBI he traded campaign donations for Navy contracts.
Reports say the probe into Graham, Clyburn and Collins ended after Trump's FBI purge.
How it unfolded
- 2017 -2020Sen. Susan Collins advocated for three Navy contracts totaling $18 million for Navatek, which was working with the University of Maine on 3D-printing.
- Mar 3, 2020Sen. Lindsey Graham met two Navatek executives and a lobbyist at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, D.C., having required them to commit to $40,000 in campaign contributions for a 45-minute meeting.
- Sep 2020Martin Kao was arrested for campaign finance violations; his arrest plunged Navatek into disarray.