Republicans defended Susan Collins after ProPublica reported the FBI had enough evidence by late 2024 to pursue a bribery probe involving her and others. Collins denies wrongdoing; the outlet says Trump-era DOJ and FBI purges halted it.
ProPublica said records and emails showed the FBI sought a sweeping investigation into Collins’ interactions with a top donor, a defense contractor who won lucrative federal contracts. Collins and her spokespeople denied wrongdoing, saying the Justice Department, including under the Biden administration, had cleared her and her staff. Collins called the report a “partisan hit job” and questioned the contractor’s credibility, citing his felony conviction and cooperation with investigators.
Collins is seeking reelection in a toss-up race against Democrat Troy Jackson, a contest that could be crucial to Senate control. Jackson accused her of “corruption of the highest order”; Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the ProPublica report a political hit job.
