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Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵

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2/ Our story starts in 2019. Collins is at risk of losing her seat. A year earlier, she helped Navatek land a multimillion-dollar Navy contract in Maine. Scott Reed, head of the pro-Collins super PAC, meets with Navatek execs in a D.C. cafe and asks for a $500K donation.

3/ This is risky. 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.

It hasn't stopped major companies from donating untold millions; they find a workaround. That's another thing Dems need to address when we regain the majority: we have a very long list of Amendments to rewrite/update.

Is this “Concerned Collins” September Surprise? G-d dammit I live for alliteration I’m sure once she knows more about the situation she’ll, yet again, become “gravely concerned” Which offers dick for her constituents who need, oh, IDK 🤷‍♂️, SOME ACTION This isn’t a school shooting You can’t just

Pray about it and make one tweet telling everyone you’re concerned about the ease in which unwell 18 year old boys can acquire weapons of war quicker/simpler than receiving affordable mental health care in this country Until we make it as simple to see a doctor as simple as buying an AR-15 in the🇺🇸

4/ To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds, Navatek’s CEO, Martin Kao, sends an initial $150K to the pro-Collins super PAC (1820 PAC) using a shell company. Reed knows Kao is behind the donation. “Very smart,” he says in an email viewed by ProPublica.

Thank you. You have my eternal support & donations in perpetuity for your fearlessness in time of cowards, grovelers, cynics & collaborators. This woman deserves to spend her (literally) golden years in quiet, concerned contemplation of how cheaply she sold her soul & this nation into fascism.

5/ Kao wants assurance Collins would know he was behind it, and according to Kao, Reed confirms that she would. Seven days after the super PAC cashes the check, one of Reed’s subordinates emails a Navatek lobbyist: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”

WOW! What a BOMBSHELL! No more pretending to be one of the *good* ones, Ms. Collins. 🤨 How disgusting! And Anti-American. 🤮 You're ALL ROTTEN to the CORE!! Great WORK!, ProPublca!! I'm a fan for LIFE!

Corruption and politics (well, corruption and everything) go hand in hand, but there have been times when we regarded it as wrong and tried to fight it. Nowadays, under the rule of the Epstein Party, corruption is not optional - it’s mandatory, to bind the Party together in a web of shared guilt.

These people need to go! *Stage one, remove all Republicans! Just Republicans the rest will follow! We need to win the House and Senate! TOP priority! *Stage two, remove all BLUE politicians on the take! Reminder to self, pay attention to crooks! *Stage three Listen to your constituents! Fix shi*!

Also, there were a # of Senators and House members on both sides that were accepting bribes, old “I’m concerned” is just the biggest. I want them all prosecuted, Dems will never achieve anything with scumbags collecting cash for wasting our tax dollars.

Great work. But how the hell do you get your hands on these emails.... i probably dont want to know. So much for cleaning up the swamp.....

Exactly. There are too many defeatists who claim Trump can "do whatever he wants". There are limitations. And when he crosses them, he's breaking the law. And so are his enablers. The only reason his crimes are not being investigated now, is because Republicans are protecting him.

Grifters gonna grift. Collins is as dirty as the rest of the filthy Trump administration. This should make her a loser in November. Steering contracts to donors, like how the Reflecting Pool got destroyed by a Trump donor.

* Government by the Corporations for the Corporations: The concern that government functions primarily to serve corporate interests rather than the public is a central debate in modern politics, often referred to as corporatocracy or the influence of "dark money" in politics. *

"...in September 2024, Kao handed the FBI the 50-page document detailing Navatek’s dealings with more than a dozen members of Congress and their staff. It was not only a confession but a road map, with the email addresses and phone numbers of people Kao thought agents ought to subpoena."

What? That's the sort of corruption USA politics are known for in 2026. Nothing unusual here. Millions of taxpayer $ in trade for thousands in campaign donations though, that's a pitiful ratio. She's a terrible negotiator. Ask Trump, he gets millions for millions. Sometimes directly from taxpayers.

Time to donate and subscribe to ProPublica, if you haven’t already. We need to draw attention to the massive corruption in our current government during this election season.

I wish to know if this corruption is "normal" in Congress (hint: It is & has been) And the blackmail (release such facts) is what is held over Members so they roll over for this Admin, mafioso pay-to-protect-racket style? Not saying anyone engaged in this shldnt be kicked fm office. They shld.

The entire GOP is corrupted by corruption and grift. They need to be ordered to retain all of their documents and electronic devices.

And again we're seeing the corruption of Republicans, MAGA, and absolutely nothing will come of it. No consequences They'll get away with it Like he gets away with everything 🙄 😒

It should be now clear why Collins kisses Trump's behind. He allowed her to do this corruption without accountability. She belongs in prison. With the men - to make that clear. Too many women take the fall for these corrupt men. They belong in prison too. It's a conspiracy.

From what I've seen on TV focus groups, many Mainers won't care as long as she continues securing funds for their local libraries. Even those who are pro choice and mad about Kavanagh. Americans have a huge problem looking ahead and beyond their own immediate personal needs. It's why we have Trump.

So, basically, we were so freaking CLOSE to having an actual, status quo-breaking investigation rock the political world... and then it all came crashing down because of... people too stupid to see that Trump should never have been trusted.

Maine continues it’s record of not giving two fucks about their senator destroying women’s bodily autonomy. They keep voting for the feckless piece of shit. I bet they’re shocked that she’s a corrupt hack and not some grandma with fainting couch. Fuck off Maine.

Republicans in Congress aren't afraid of Trump & his handlers. They just let Trump's admin do as they pleased & protect Trump's crimes bc it protected them from consequences in all their corrupt crime schemes.

Hmmm...Another GOP Cover Up!

ProPublica@propublica.org

NEW: In late 2024, FBI investigators had enough evidence to launch a sweeping bribery probe that could ensnare top lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins. Then Trump was reelected and eviscerated the FBI and DOJ teams handling public corruption probes.

🎯 Good question! The price is steep. Just like all the money injected into these GOP campaigns. They want to buy their way out of all the crime, cover ups, and corruption they created.

Well Said! That's what this regime is about. They're fleecing the world and hiding the profits. Problem is: They've stolen so much its hard to hide all the corruption.

So not just a toady for the party! We assume women are dumb or gullible - not corrupt, I suppose a superpower of corrupt women everywhere - a kind of invisibility cloak.

To: Sen. Susan Collins Re: Navatek Defense U ask Why anyone should believe a convicted felon? Why ma’am do U vote 95% of the time at the direction of a convicted felon??? & Why do U continue to employ staff, e.g. your Finance Director, who at minimum took HUGE Donations knowing they were ILLEGAL???

Susan’s crimes occurred in 2018, during Trump’s 1st term. The Biden FBI, was the one investigating or “circling” starting in 2022. Then chump came back into power and stopped the investigations.