A sweeping corruption inquiry into the Maine senator was halted in late 2024 after agents had already collected evidence for a formal probe. CEO Martin Kao allegedly funneled $150,000 through a shell company to a super PAC supporting Susan Collins in exchange for government contracts for his boat building company, Navatek. Emails and a 50 page document reviewed by ProPublica show that Collins' office pressured the Navy to award a specific $8 million contract to Navatek and steered nearly $40 million in total awards to the firm.

The investigation ended following Donald Trump's return to office and a subsequent reduction in FBI anti corruption personnel. Collins' deputy chief of staff dismissed the claims as "categorically false," noting that the FBI previously cleared the senator in 2021. The office further stated that Kao was sentenced to 7 year and 3 year prison terms in 2025 after pleading guilty to money laundering and wire fraud.