ProPublica dropped a bombshell report revealing that the FBI was investigating Susan Collins for engaging in a pay-to-play scheme. For years, Susan Collins steered millions of dollars in defense contracts to a Hawaii-based company called Navatek, whose CEO Martin Kao then made illegal donations to her 2020 campaign totalling $200,000. There was an investigation underway until Trump purged the FBI, and despite her many instances of ‘concern’, Susan Collins has voted with Trump 96% of the time. 

This was revealed by Kao himself and backed up by numerous emails and checks. Kao routed money through family members and a shell company, while Susan Collins pushed for Navatek to gain contracts, despite many of their projects never being used. Notably, Kao sent a $150,000 check to the 1820 PAC, which supported Collins using a limited liability company as a cover. The 1820 PAC was run by Scott Reed, who is connected to Tom Daffron, Susan’s husband. 

How have Susan Collins and those close to her responded? Initially, by dismissing the claims as they came from Kao, and saying that the Collins office was cleared by the FBI of “seven-year old” allegations. ProPublica found both of these claims to be false. Kao backed up a trove of evidence already collected by the FBI, and not only were Collins and her team not cleared, but the investigation was from 2022 to 2024. 

So what should Mainers take away from this?

While she has often campaigned on the strength of her position on the Appropriations Committee, and how that helps her to serve Maine, it is clear that Susan Collins’ priority isn’t serving the people. This revelation ties into a long history of corruption: refusing to vote to shut down stock trading, accepting money from lobbyists through her husband, and voting against ending the Iran War five times while the value of her natural gas stocks rises.  

This state needs a Senator who uses their power to fight for working Mainers, not to fill their pockets. For all her power and seniority, we’ve seen no real benefit to Susan Collins’ leadership, and this revelation makes it clear that she will never put her constituents first. It’s time to vote Susan Collins out.