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The BDN promptly posted a lengthy article on Tuesday from ProPublica summarizing an FBI investigation of Sen. Susan Collins, other members of Congress and persons making campaign contributions to them in ways that the FBI and prosecutors thought might violate federal criminal law, including elections laws. That investigation and the team leading it were shut down and the key agents involved removed by President Donald Trump in 2025. Collins was reported to be the most important target of those who hoped members of Congress would direct agencies to award millions of dollars in defense contracts to one company in particular but not the only one.
Given the gravity of the allegations and the fact that they involve several office holders, other investigative bodies should take up the work, complete it and bring to bear whatever remedies are appropriate.
The Senate Ethics Committee is the first body that should investigate the records and statements described and recommend appropriate actions. The Senate Committees on the Judiciary, Armed Services, Appropriations, and on Homeland Security and Government Affairs all have jurisdiction over these issues and should investigate these allegations.
The Government Accountability Office is the investigative arm of the Congress that should at once begin to dig into this at the request of any relevant committee chair or ranking minority Member.
The Maine attorney general in case state laws are implicated, and the U.S. District Attorney for Maine should also investigate the matter.
John Fitzgerald
Sedgwick