Susan Collins Accidentally Spills The Scheme For 150K Laundered Donation

During her debate, Susan Collins explained exactly how the money laundering works to funnel big bucks into campaigns via LLCs.
Susan Collins Accidentally Spills The Scheme For 150K Laundered Donation
Martin Kao, second from left, with Collins, center, at a publicity event at Navatek’s Maine headquarters in August 2019.Credit: Susan Collins' Facebook Page
By Karoli Kuns — October 9, 2026

The best moments in debates are when one opponent forces the other to explain some shady, underhanded process that they've engaged in, and Thursday night was no exception.

There's been extensive reporting on Susan Collins' laundered $150K contribution from Navatek, a company in Maine that wanted defense contracts for doing nothing.

But just to review, the FBI was investigating Collins for taking that large contribution as a quid pro quo for handing off millions in defense contracts in Maine. There's even a photo of her christening a prototype that was never meant to be built but cost millions just for the spec.

Had Trump not gutted the public corruption unit of the DOJ, Collins might well be under indictment right now.

Which is why this debate moment is so delicious. Here we have Collins explaining exactly why that $150K donation was illegal. Be sure to read that whole ProPublica article, but as a quick refresher, Collins' staff told Navatek's then-CEO Martin Kao how to direct a large donation to her by circumventing the normal limits on PAC contributions.

First of all, corporations cannot give money directly to Collins for senator or for Jackson for senator.

They established political action committees called PACs that represent all their employees and are limited in giving $5,000 for the primary, $5,000 for the general election.

So far, so good.

So how did Martin Kao get $150,000 to Collins?

copy of check to collins campaign for 150,000
A check for $150,000 to the Collins super PAC 1820 from the Society of Young Women Scientist and Engineers — a shell company that obscured the actual donor. Credit: Screenshot/ProPublica

That's how.

But a hit dog does holler.

And that's why Mr. Kao created a shell company to run his corporation PACs through to get to Senator Collins PAC.

And that's why he's in jail today.

That's why he's in jail.

Martin Kao told the DOJ quite a bit about Collins and how he had to buy access to her through campaign donations.

The first time Kao came face-to-face with Collins, in 2018, he told the FBI, he had to pay for the privilege.

The record speaks for itself, but so did Susan with her little explanation. Kao may be in jail, but she also ought to be.

Time for her to go.

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