Court records tell story of a Hawaii defense contractor s attempts to influence Susan Collins and others mainepublic.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mainepublic.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The former Hawaii defense contractor has pleaded guilty to a series of federal crimes related to PPP fraud and illegal campaign donations. Court records detail how he tried to get away with it.
On Tuesday, Axios reported on a newly public search warrant from the FBI revealing an investigation into a massive scheme to illegally funnel money to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins 2020 re-election campaign.
Federal investigators suspect defense contractor Navatek and its former CEO Martin Kao illegally directed $150,000 to a Collins super PAC through a shell company. They also believe Kao reimbursed family members for donating to Collins, an illegal way to circumvent campaign donation limits. Kao has previously been indicted for fraudulently receiving COVID relief funds, Axios reported. According to the FBI, Kao and his wife set up a sham LLC called the Society for Young Women Scientists and Engineers. Navatek then wrote the LLC a $150,000 check, investigators say, which was passed on to the super PAC, Axios reported. Government contractors are barred from donating to federal political committees, and investigators suspect the donations were attempts to evade that proh