Susan Collins tears into bribery allegations as new claims emerge during critical Senate battle

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, is addressing claims she was caught up in an FBI bribery investigation, dismissing reporting on the story as the work of Democratic operatives and a known conman.

ProPublica reported that Martin Kao, a former defense contractor CEO and convicted fraudster, told the FBI his company funneled $150,000 through a shell company to a super PAC supporting Collins' 2020 reelection as part of what he described as a broader pay-to-play operation involving political contributions and government contracts. His cooperation later helped open a new phase of the federal investigation that developed into a broader bribery probe.

Shortly after the story broke, Collins spoke up to dismiss Kao on the basis of his character and called into question the origins of the story. 

"I've got to say, I do not understand how anyone would take the word of a felon who's been convicted twice - twice, two separate cases - of five counts of money laundering, counts of bank fraud, false submissions to the FEC. He is a convicted liar," the senator told The Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel.

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In a separate interview with Punchbowl News, Collins blamed Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the controversy, calling the report a "political hit job" and questioning its timing.

Collins is embroiled in a heated re-election campaign against Democrat Troy Jackson. Whether Collins keeps her seat could prove crucial to determining which party controls the Senate in 2027. Any hint of controversy for either candidate, naturally, is suited to become a national controversy.

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Campaign finance records cited by ProPublica show that a shell company established by Kao made a donation to a super PAC supporting Collins' 2020 re-election campaign. The outlet also obtained emails that it says show Scott Reed, head of the super PAC backing Collins that cycle, was aware of the fact that Kao had used a shell company to mask his illegal donation.

A 2019 email from a naval officer shows that the senator had advocated on behalf of Navatek, the contractor Kao was leading at the time. The email, however, was sent months before Kao routed his illegal donation to Collins' super PAC. Federal contractors are barred from donating to political campaigns, which is why Kao resorted to a shell company.

FBI spokesman Ben Williamson told ProPublica the agency had investigated claims against Collins years ago "and ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or Senator Collins' campaign. Any suggestion otherwise is totally false."

The FBI, however, did not respond to ProPublica's questions about a new investigation it says was launched in 2024 after Kao spent years cooperating with federal agents and detailing his dealings with Collins and other lawmakers.

"The Biden-led Justice Department and FBI totally cleared my office, my campaign and me five years ago of these 7-year-old allegations," Collins said, also not addressing the 2024 investigation directly.

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Kao had a clear incentive to cooperate with the FBI. He was facing years in prison and hoped that providing information would help reduce his sentence, although the judge ultimately gave him no leniency for his cooperation.

"This is a smear job. And as someone who has always prided herself on serving with integrity, it really offends me," Collins said. "And I'm offended for my staff too, both on the campaign and in the personal office."

Collins' office did not return a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.