Trump Justice Department Let FBI Bribery Probe Tied to Sen. Susan Collins Go Dormant, ProPublica Finds

A ProPublica investigation published September 22, 2026, revealed the FBI built a sweeping pay-to-play corruption case in 2024 examining Sen. Susan Collins' dealings with former Navatek CEO Martin Kao, before the Trump administration's overhaul of DOJ's public-corruption units let the case go dormant. Kao, convicted of illegal campaign contributions, told FBI agents over three days of interviews that his company funneled donations to Collins' campaign for tens of millions of dollars in Navy contracts, and gave agents a 50-page document naming other lawmakers and staff he alleged were involved.

By the end of 2024, agents had enough evidence to seek approval for a broader bribery probe. After Trump returned to office, the specialized corruption units handling the matter were gutted, a lead agent was pushed out, and the case went dormant. Collins' office called Kao's allegations "outlandish" and said her campaign cooperated fully; the FBI said it found nothing implicating Collins.

No charges have been filed against Collins, and the bribery allegations remain unproven and disputed by her office.