U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is facing renewed political scrutiny after ProPublica reported that the FBI planned in 2024 to investigate what she knew about alleged illegal campaign contributions from Navatek, a Hawaii defense contractor and donor. The report said the inquiry into a possible pay-to-play arrangement did not begin after President Donald Trump took office. ProPublica reported that the head of a Collins super PAC sought a $500,000 contribution from Navatek executives in 2019, while CEO Martin Kao initially sent $150,000 through a shell company and later told executives Collins had committed to helping secure $32 million in Navy contracts. Kao and two other executives were later indicted over alleged illegal contributions, and Kao has disputed credibility after seeking leniency by providing information to the FBI. Collins called the allegations absolutely outrageous and completely false, while campaign manager Steve Abbott denied that donations were exchanged for meetings or contracts. An FBI spokesperson said the matter had been investigated years earlier and found nothing implicating Collins or her campaign. Maine Democrats, including Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson and Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson, demanded answers six weeks before Collins seeks a sixth term. The race is a major Democratic target as the party seeks Senate control. The report also described reduced federal capacity for public-corruption investigations under the Trump administration, including changes at the Justice Department and FBI.