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In late 2024, FBI investigators had enough evidence to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. The agency was examining interactions between Collins and a top donor: Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek.
According to Kao, in 2019, the head of the pro-Collins super PAC met with him and other Navatek execs and asked for a $500,000 donation. Government contractors are banned from making political contributions. For the company to offer donations to Collins in exchange for an official action, or for Collins to accept, would constitute criminal bribery.
To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds, Kao sent an initial $150,000 to the super PAC using a shell company, saying he had cleared it with his lawyer. The head of the super PAC knew Kao was behind the donation. âVery smart,â he replied in an email viewed by ProPublica.
Weeks later, Kao told his team Collins committed to getting the company $32 million in naval contracts.
But the FBI saw through Kaoâs shell company ruse. In 2022, a grand jury indicted him for making illegal campaign contributions. Facing years in prison, Kao revealed the full scheme to the FBI, hoping to reduce his sentence. What he told them has never before become public.
Kao and his close associates donated nearly $900,000 to dozens of politicians, allowing Navatek to establish operations in half a dozen states with more than $40 million a year in government funds. Collins, Kao said, was Navatekâs most important patron.
Then President Donald Trump returned to office â and the FBI and Department of Justice teams that handled public corruption cases were eviscerated. The investigation died, and the government stopped talking to an informant who had offered a road map to corruption in Congress.
ProPublica revealed the existence of the case for the first time.
3. Trump built a temple to himself on the land complete with money spigots.
4. Trump poured the swamp water into the reflecting pool.
So too bad a certain gentleman has forgotten his "Burisma! Biden Crime Family!" vigilance and is silent on Trump's cashing in. Because Trump is rivaling the corruption found in African dictatorships.
Not surprising. But still, F these guys. I'm not usually for retaliation, but I hope to see some retaliation. For all the shed tears about how much they were the true patriots and no one cared about their (false) grievance, I think it would be fitting for them to just get back some of what they really have dished out. I'll get some earplugs to protect from the shrieking.
Anybody in law school right now is guaranteed a job in the DOJ if they want one. It'll take thousands of them to address all of the Trump cases when he's gone.
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins â Until Trump Got in the Way
