Navatek CEO told FBI agents Susan Collins promised $32 million in Navy contracts

Political Guyentist · October 4, 20261 min read

Navatek CEO Martin Kao told FBI agents that Susan Collins (Sen-R Maine) committed to getting his company $32 million in naval contracts, and that a pro-Collins super PAC asked him for $500,000. Both claims are Kao's own account. Collins calls the reporting a "smear job" built on "the words of a twice-convicted felon."

The moneyKao routed an initial $150,000 donation through a shell company; the super PAC head replied "Very smart."3 details

Kao routed an initial $150,000 donation through a shell company; the super PAC head replied "Very smart."
Kao and associates gave nearly $900,000 to dozens of politicians.
Kao says the super PAC's $500,000 request came in 2019.

What we’re less sure of3 of 6 claims

Medium
Kao told agents that a pro-Collins super PAC asked him for $500,000, a request made in 2019.
The story attributes this to Kao's statements to FBI agents, as reported by ProPublica. The $500,000 figure and 2019 timing rest on Kao's account. The FEC MUR 7690 contribution window (Nov.–Dec. 2019) is consistent with the year.
Medium
Kao told agents that Susan Collins committed to getting Navatek $32 million in naval contracts.
The story attributes this to Kao's statement to agents, per ProPublica. It is one interested witness's account. Collins disputes it, and ProPublica reports the FBI found nothing implicating her. The traceable Navy contracts in the sources ($8M, $9.17M, $6.94M) do not total $32M.
Medium
The super PAC head replied 'Very smart' to the shell-company donation.
This is a named quote. Only the ProPublica reporting supports it; none of the other sources independently confirms the wording.