FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump returned to office
An investigation into alleged pay-to-play between the senator and a defense contractor was reportedly halted.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made

Beatrice Caciotti for ProPublica. Source images: U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ official Facebook page.
Photograph: ProPublica (embedded from source)
What this story says
- The FBI sought to launch a pay-to-play investigation into interactions between Senator Susan Collins and defense contractor Navatek's CEO, Martin Kao, in 2024.
- Navatek's CEO, Martin Kao, allegedly offered a $500,000 donation to Collins' super PAC in exchange for guarantees of federal funding.
- Navatek reportedly funneled an initial $150,000 through a shell company to the super PAC.
- The FBI investigation reportedly ended after Donald Trump returned to office, with no one working for Collins being charged.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 65 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 12 of the 77 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
70/100
Craft
70/100
Hype
45/100
77 sources · methodology
Missing from the right
Only 9 of the 65 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated right.
A reader who follows the right would not have seen this. We report the absence rather than explain it: outlets choose what to cover for many reasons, and we have no evidence about which one applies here.
In late 2019, a fundraiser for Senator Susan Collins met with executives from the defense contractor Navatek. The fundraiser, Scott Reed, reportedly solicited a $500,000 donation from Navatek's CEO, Martin Kao. Kao allegedly offered the donation in exchange for Collins guaranteeing tens of millions in federal funding for the company. Navatek reportedly planned to funnel the donation through a shell company to conceal its source. An initial $150,000 was reportedly sent to Collins' super PAC through this method. In 2022, Kao was indicted for illegal campaign contributions, but no one associated with Collins was charged.
Disagreement on investigation timeline
The Gilmer Mirror and ProPublica report that the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation into Collins' interactions with Kao in 2024. Maine Public and Bangor Daily News state that the FBI sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe after catching the contractor's CEO making illegal contributions, with the second Trump administration dismantling the unit handling the inquiry. The Gilmer Mirror and ProPublica also state the investigation reportedly ended after Donald Trump returned to office.
What the coverage left out
None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mention the FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson's statement that the agency investigated claims against Collins years ago and "ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or Senator Collins’ campaign."
Coverage settled. We checked this 37 times and stopped on 28 Sept 2026, 01:15. The figures above are what it finished at.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
40 rated outlets
- Left-rated reports led on the FBI's attempt to launch a pay-to-play investigation into Senator Susan Collins and a top donor, Martin Kao. The reports stated the investigation was reportedly halted after Donald Trump returned to office, with ProPublica and The Gilmer Mirror noting the FBI sought to launch the probe in 2024. These outlets detailed that Kao allegedly offered a $500,000 donation to Collins' super PAC in exchange for guaranteed federal funding. They also reported that Navatek funneled an initial $150,000 through a shell company to the super PAC. ProPublica and The Gilmer Mirror quoted the headline "The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins, Until Trump Got in the Way" and highlighted that Kao was indicted for illegal campaign contributions while no one working for Collins was charged. Maine Public, Bangor Daily News, and Raw Story also used similar headlines and stated the FBI sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others before the second Trump administration dismantled the unit handling the inquiry.
Centre
16 rated outlets
- Centre-rated reports focused on the FBI's alleged investigation into Senator Susan Collins and a top donor, Martin Kao, which was reportedly ended after Donald Trump returned to office. The Portland Press Herald and The Gilmer Mirror used the headline "The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins, until Trump got in the way." Both reports mentioned that the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation examining interactions between Collins and Kao. The Gilmer Mirror also provided details about the alleged solicitation of a $500,000 donation from Navatek's CEO in exchange for federal funding guarantees and Kao's subsequent indictment for illegal campaign contributions.
Right
9 rated outlets
We have not written our reading of the right coverage of this story. The right-rated outlets that ran it are listed below.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump…?
- Of the 65 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 62% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 14% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 77. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump… left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 65 rated outlets on this story, 62% are rated left, 24% are rated centre, 14% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump… biased?
- FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump returned to office is one event reported by 77 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump…?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated right had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered FBI probe into Susan Collins and donor reportedly ended after Trump…?
- 77 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What was the alleged pay-to-play scheme involving Senator Susan Collins?
- The FBI reportedly sought to investigate allegations that Navatek CEO Martin Kao offered a $500,000 donation to Senator Susan Collins' super PAC in exchange for guarantees of tens of millions in federal funding. Navatek allegedly funneled an initial $150,000 through a shell company.
- What happened to Martin Kao?
- Martin Kao, the CEO of Navatek, was indicted in 2022 for making illegal campaign contributions. He reportedly cooperated with the FBI, providing details of the alleged scheme in exchange for a potential reduction in his prison sentence.
- Did anyone working for Susan Collins face charges?
- According to the reports, no one working for Senator Susan Collins was charged in connection with the investigation into Martin Kao and Navatek's alleged campaign contributions.
- Why did the FBI investigation reportedly end?
- The FBI investigation into the alleged pay-to-play scheme reportedly ended after Donald Trump returned to office. Reports suggest that specialized FBI and Department of Justice teams handling public corruption investigations were dismantled during that period.
Read it at the source
77 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
40- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens The Sun Chronicle in a new tab)
The Sun Chronicle — is The Sun Chronicle biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got In The Way (opens Techdirt in a new tab)
- Trump FBI ended pay-to-play probe involving Collins (opens The Week in a new tab)
- Do Voters Care Whether Susan Collins Is Corrupt? (opens New York Magazine in a new tab)
New York Magazine — is New York Magazine biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump FBI Dropped Susan Collins Bribery Probe (opens Newser in a new tab)
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — Until Trump got in the way (opens Salon in a new tab)
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Florida Phoenix in a new tab)
Florida Phoenix — is Florida Phoenix biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI shut down inquiry into top ally of Republican senator (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 32 more
- FBI probed Sen. Susan Collins campaign corruption until 2025: reports (opens USA Today in a new tab)
- Collins Under Fire & Iowa’s Upset Watch (opens Puck in a new tab)
- 'F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins' #ELB (opens electionlawblog.org in a new tab)
electionlawblog.org — is electionlawblog.org biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI was looking at key Republican senator in bribery probe - then Trump took office (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI was looking at key Republican senator in bribery probe - then Trump took office (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Minnesota Reformer in a new tab)
Minnesota Reformer — is Minnesota Reformer biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens NationofChange in a new tab)
NationofChange — is NationofChange biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Susan Collins in trouble: Pay-for-play scheme exposed (opens People's World in a new tab)
People's World — is People's World biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI was investigating Susan Collins for bribery — then Trump intervened and dismantled the anti-corruption squad: Report (opens The Daily Boulder in a new tab)
The Daily Boulder — is The Daily Boulder biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump killed an investigation into Susan Collins's corruption (opens Lawyers, Guns & Money in a new tab)
Lawyers, Guns & Money — is Lawyers, Guns & Money biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Susan Collins Denies Wrongdoing After Bombshell Report on FBI Corruption Probe (opens washingtonsun.com in a new tab)
washingtonsun.com — is washingtonsun.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens The Maine Monitor in a new tab)
The Maine Monitor — is The Maine Monitor biased? Our profile of this outlet
- What concessions did Susan Collins make to tRump before FBI dropped the probe into her pay-to-play scheme? - Jackson should start asking. (opens Daily Kos in a new tab)
Daily Kos — is Daily Kos biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Key takeaways from a ProPublica report on the FBI’s anti-corruption squad looking into Senator Susan Collins - The Boston Globe (opens Boston Globe in a new tab)
Boston Globe — is Boston Globe biased? Our profile of this outlet
- It’s Totally Not Sketchy at All That Trump’s DOJ Is Giving Up on Public Corruption Cases (opens Esquire in a new tab)
Esquire — is Esquire biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Susan Collins Was Target of Federal Bribery Case … Until Trump Gutted the FBI (opens RollingStone in a new tab)
RollingStone — is RollingStone biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI Bribery Probe That Could Have Implicated Susan Collins Was Scrapped After Trump Returned, Report Says (opens IBTimes UK in a new tab)
IBTimes UK — is IBTimes UK biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Trump’s FBI Scrapped Bribery Investigation Linked to Sen. Susan Collins (opens Truthout in a new tab)
- 'Incredible Story of Corruption': Bombshell Report Puts Susan Collins at Center of Massive Bribery Scheme (opens Common Dreams in a new tab)
Common Dreams — is Common Dreams biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got In The Way (opens HuffPost in a new tab)
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens Talking Points Memo in a new tab)
Talking Points Memo — is Talking Points Memo biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Collins Accused Of Steering Defense Deal To Donor (opens Joe.My.God. in a new tab)
Joe.My.God. — is Joe.My.God. biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI Bribe Probe Into Must-Win Republican Senator Is Exposed (opens The Daily Beast in a new tab)
The Daily Beast — is The Daily Beast biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way • Maine Morning Star (opens mainemorningstar.com in a new tab)
mainemorningstar.com — is mainemorningstar.com biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- FBI Was Targeting Susan Collins in Bombshell Bribery Probe—Until Trump (opens The New Republic in a new tab)
The New Republic — is The New Republic biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Corruption alert: Trump saved Susan Collins from sweeping FBI investigation (opens Alternet in a new tab)
Alternet — is Alternet biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Raw Story in a new tab)
- Turns Out Susan Collins Was Way More of a Sellout Than We Thought (opens Jezebel in a new tab)
Jezebel — is Jezebel biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- FBI Anti-Corruption Investigators Targeted Susan Collins in Bribery Probe — But Then Trump Happened: Report (opens Mediaite in a new tab)
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Bangor Daily News in a new tab)
Bangor Daily News — is Bangor Daily News biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens ProPublica in a new tab)
ProPublica — is ProPublica biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Maine Public in a new tab)
Maine Public — is Maine Public biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
16- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in a new tab)
- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens WFMZ in a new tab)
- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens Chronicle Online in a new tab)
Chronicle Online — is Chronicle Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens WBOC 16 in a new tab)
- FBI shut down inquiry tied to Hawaii contractor’s claims | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (opens Star Advertiser in a new tab)
Star Advertiser — is Star Advertiser biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens Civil Beat in a new tab)
Civil Beat — is Civil Beat biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI was looking at key Republican senator in bribery probe — then Trump took office (opens INTELLINEWS in a new tab)
INTELLINEWS — is INTELLINEWS biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Susan Collins blasted by Troy Jackson over report on FBI probe—"Corruption" (opens Newsweek in a new tab)
Show 8 more
- Sen. Collins' staff denies corruption allegations made in ProPublica report (opens WMTW in a new tab)
- Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle (opens Forbes in a new tab)
- Trump's FBI shut down investigation into defense contractor's alleged bribes (opens Defense One in a new tab)
Defense One — is Defense One biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Susan Collins Was Target of FBI Bribery Probe (opens Political Wire in a new tab)
Political Wire — is Political Wire biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Lewiston Sun Journal in a new tab)
Lewiston Sun Journal — is Lewiston Sun Journal biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Central Maine News in a new tab)
Central Maine News — is Central Maine News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Portland Press Herald in a new tab)
Portland Press Herald — is Portland Press Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens The Gilmer Mirror in a new tab)
The Gilmer Mirror — is The Gilmer Mirror biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
Right
9- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens The Daily Sentinel in a new tab)
The Daily Sentinel — is The Daily Sentinel biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI accused of shutting down investigation into alleged wrongdoing by Susan Collins’ campaign staff (opens Bizpac Review in a new tab)
Bizpac Review — is Bizpac Review biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI PROBE: Agents Were Preparing Bribery Investigation Involving Sen. Susan Collins Before Case Was Shut Down (opens Yeshiva World News in a new tab)
Yeshiva World News — is Yeshiva World News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Liberal Website Revives Collins Allegations Weeks Before Election Day; FBI Dropped Case Under Joe Biden (opens The Maine Wire in a new tab)
The Maine Wire — is The Maine Wire biased? Our profile of this outlet
- For The Left, There Is No Republican Too Moderate To Target With Lawfare (opens Conservative Review in a new tab)
Conservative Review — is Conservative Review biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Leftists Will Target Any Republican With Lawfare (opens The Federalist in a new tab)
The Federalist — is The Federalist biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Collins aide dismisses corruption allegation as ‘categorically false’ (opens Washington Examiner in a new tab)
Washington Examiner — is Washington Examiner biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI Examined Susan Collins' Donor Ties Before Broader Bribery Probe Suddenly Collapsed - American Liberty News (opens americanliberty.news in a new tab)
americanliberty.news — is americanliberty.news biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
12- Trump Saved Susan Collins from a Bribery Probe (opens Hillman Foundation in a new tab)
Hillman Foundation — is Hillman Foundation biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI Investigation Into Collins: Jackson Takes Advantage in the Maine Senate Race (opens SecretNews in a new tab)
SecretNews — is SecretNews biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- Maine Democrats Ask If Republican Senator Knows About Illegal Campaign Contributions · Global Voices (opens Independent Español in a new tab)
Independent Español — is Independent Español biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it 'totally false' (opens KXL in a new tab)
- ‘Show Proof’: California Rep. Ro Khanna Faces Pushback After Accusing Trump of Covering Up FBI Probe Into Sen. Susan Collins (opens The Nerd Stash in a new tab)
The Nerd Stash — is The Nerd Stash biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Maine, the Investigation of Susan Collins Ignites the Race that Can Decide the Senate (opens La Voce di New York in a new tab)
La Voce di New York — is La Voce di New York biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way - Schwartzreport (opens schwartzreport.net in a new tab)
schwartzreport.net — is schwartzreport.net biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI anti-corruption squad was circling Susan Collins — until Trump got in the way (opens Attention to the Unseen in a new tab)
Attention to the Unseen — is Attention to the Unseen biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 4 more
- ProPublica: Trump scrapped unit behind FBI bribery probe into Susan Collins (opens njtoday.news in a new tab)
njtoday.news — is njtoday.news biased? Our profile of this outlet
- GOP Senator Susan Collins CAUGHT In MASSIVE BRIBERY SCHEME Probe. (opens Politics Video Channel in a new tab)
Politics Video Channel — is Politics Video Channel biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens Katie Couric Media in a new tab)
Katie Couric Media — is Katie Couric Media biased? Our profile of this outlet
- FBI’s anti-corruption team eyed Susan Collins’ operation. Then Trump’s purge began (opens BizToc in a new tab)
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