FBI Shut Down Collins Inquiry as Trump Took Office, ProPublica Reports

The FBI closed an investigation into Senator Susan Collins and her ties to a defense contractor in 2025 after President Trump returned to office, ProPublica reported on September 22. The probe examined whether Collins steered millions in federal contracts to Navatek, a Hawaiian military firm whose CEO had funneled $150,000 to her super PAC through a shell company. Collins and the FBI deny wrongdoing, but Democrats are seizing on the report six weeks before Election Day as Collins seeks a sixth term.

What the ProPublica report alleges

In late 2019, Scott Reed, head of Collins’ super PAC, met with Navatek executives at a Washington coffee shop and requested a $500,000 donation. The CEO told Reed that if Navatek donated, Collins would guarantee tens of millions in additional federal contracts. Navatek then sent $150,000 through a shell company to hide the money’s source. Two months later, executives were told Collins had committed to $32 million in naval contracts, according to an internal company email ProPublica reviewed.

How the investigation unfolded and closed

The FBI began investigating under the Biden administration after Martin Kao, Navatek’s CEO, told agents he had orchestrated a pay-to-play scheme involving members of Congress. Kao is now serving an 87-month prison sentence for wire fraud, money laundering, and bank fraud. The inquiry was closed under Trump last year because senior FBI officials questioned Kao’s credibility, which he began offering around the time he pleaded guilty in 2022. Agents did not uncover much evidence to corroborate his claims, though officials acknowledged more could have surfaced if the investigation had continued.

Collins denies allegations as Democrats attack

Collins’ deputy chief of staff Annie Clark called the allegations “categorically false” and stated there were never any allegations of wrongdoing by the campaign. Troy Jackson, Collins’ Democratic opponent, accused her of “corruption of the highest order” and demanded answers about every contract and conversation her team facilitated. Jackson also claimed Collins voted with Trump 96% of the time. The race is nationally significant as one of the tightest Senate contests in the 2026 midterms, with control of the chamber potentially at stake.

What happens next in the Maine race

Collins is seeking a sixth term in a tight battle with Jackson, a former Maine Senate president. The report breaks six weeks before Election Day. One Maine politics expert told Newsweek the disclosure “could sting” Collins’ reelection chances, though she has won by wide margins in the past due to personal popularity and a bipartisan image. Democrats have been hopeful about unseating her this year as Maine leans Democratic overall.

Final Thoughts

The closed FBI investigation into Collins adds a fresh corruption charge to an already competitive Senate race. With the probe’s closure tied to Trump’s 2025 purge of the FBI, the timing raises questions about political influence on federal law enforcement during a critical midterm election.

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