Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is certainly not a widely-liked figure in the Senate. The “moderate” who rarely votes along moderate lines has sparked anger over her broken promises to protect abortion rights, stand against ex-President Trump’s worst policies and impulses, and listen to her constituents. Now, her 2020 campaign to hold her Senate seat, a seat that nearly all polls said she was likely to lose, is under investigation.
JUST IN: The FBI is investigating what it calls a massive scheme to illegally finance Sen. Susan Collins' 2020 reelection bid, Axios has learned. https://t.co/36nNweHIUc
— Axios (@axios) May 18, 2021
A search warrant obtained by Axios shows that Navatek, now called the Martin Defense Group, revealed that a contractor is suspected of having donated more than the legal limit after receiving a significant amount of help from Sen. Collins in landing an $8 million dollar Navy contract. The contractor then funneled more than $150,000 to a PAC for Collins’ reelection bid by distributing the money for others to donate for them, thereby avoiding the limit for donations. At the time, there is no proof that Collins or her reelection campaign team were aware of the crime.
According to Axios:
‘The FBI is investigating what it describes as a massive scheme to illegally finance Sen. Susan Collins’ 2020 reelection bid, Axios has learned… A recently unsealed search warrant application shows the FBI believes a Hawaii defense contractor illegally funneled $150,000 to a pro-Collins super PAC and reimbursed donations to Collins’ campaign.
In retrospect, Chief Justice Roberts probably saved Susan Collins's career by delaying the Supreme Court's decision nuking abortion rights until after Collins's reelection race was over. https://t.co/MC9SYBeRS7
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) May 17, 2021
The warrant calls for the legal seizure of “one digital media storage device…containing the images of two wireless cellphones.’ The law enforcement officer who wrote the search warrant, which was approved by a U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey, detailed what he expected to find.
The search warrant states that:
‘the affadavit(s), or any recorded testimony, establish probable cause to search and seize the person or property described above, and that such search will reveal…evidence, fruits, and instrumentalities of violation of…contributions in the name of another.’
BIDEN: "I'm willing to compromise on the rate."
MCCONNELL: "From Susan Collins to Ted Cruz Republicans are 100% united on opposing everything in the Biden agenda."#RepublicansAreTheProblem pic.twitter.com/1fRC8s22oL
— Confunctionist (@confunctionist) May 6, 2021
Collins faces scrutiny from voters all over the country as the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could effectively dismantle Roe v. Wade, which Collins promised to protect and, instead, confirmed the second of Trump’s three Supreme Court nominees, ensuring the public that he would not interfere with reproductive rights. After the third, even more anti-reproductive freedoms Justice Amy Comes Barrett was confirmed, the conservative majority endangers the legislation that has ensured safe and legal abortion services for decades.
The New York Times reported at the time that:
‘Emerging from a more than two-hour “courtesy visit” with Judge Kavanaugh…Susan Collins of Maine said they had discussed abortion cases “at length,” and…he regarded Roe as “settled law.” Ms. Collins later said she was heartened by the statement.’
Remember when some of us said that we openly wept when Trump won and people told us that we were overreacting?
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) May 17, 2021
