Fact check
“An email from someone working for Reed to a Navatek representative asked for Kao’s number so Collins could thank him for the donation.”
Reasoning
The claim that an email from a Reed employee to a Navatek representative asked for Martin Kao’s phone number so Senator Collins could thank him for a donation is explicitly documented in ProPublica articles, which include the email excerpt. No contradictory evidence is presented.
On confidence: Multiple primary sources from ProPublica directly quote the email content confirming the request.
Important context
The email is part of a broader investigation into alleged improper donations to Senator Collins. The email confirms a request for Kao’s contact information for a thank‑you, consistent with standard donor‑thank‑you practices.
Evidence
Supporting (5)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceProPublica Debunks Susan Collins’ Claims About FBI Anti-Corruption Probe — ProPublica
included an email from someone working for Reed to a Navatek representative asking for Kao’s number so Collins could thank him for the donation. These are consistent with Kao’s version of events. Steve Abbott, Collins’ campaign manager,…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceProPublica Debunks Susan Collins’ Claims About FBI Anti-Corruption Probe — ProPublica
working for Reed to a Navatek representative asking for Kao’s number so Collins could thank him for the donation. These are consistent with Kao’s version of events. Steve Abbott, Collins’ campaign manager, said at a Wednesday press…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceFBI Eyed Susan Collins Over Defense Contractor’s Donations — ProPublica
seen me deliver,” Kao said. Reed knew Kao was behind the $150,000 anonymous donation, emails showed, because Kao told Reed he planned to donate through a shell company. “Very smart,” Reed replied in an email viewed by ProPublica. Reed did…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceFBI Eyed Susan Collins Over Defense Contractor’s Donations — ProPublica
Collins had helped their company land a multimillion-dollar Navy research contract in Maine. Now, seated at a coffee shop not far from the U.S. Capitol, Reed asked them for a $500,000 donation. Government contractors are banned from making…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceProPublica report on Susan Collins is roiling Maine's Senate race
according to Punchbowl News. Asked about Collins wanting to thank Kao for a donation, according to an email between a Navatek lobbyist and Reed, Clark said Super PACs make their donations public and “it is fairly standard practice for…
Limitations
The evidence is limited to the ProPublica reports; no independent verification beyond these reports is provided. The content of the email is not reproduced in full, so verification relies on the excerpts quoted by ProPublica.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:49 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Susan Collins Dismissed Our Reporting as Old News. Some of Her Claims Aren’t True.ProPublica · William Turton