18/ The White House referred us to the FBI. A spokesperson said the FBI “ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins” or her campaign. The FBI did not address questions about the new phase of the inquiry prompted by Kao’s account.
September 22, 2026 at 11:16 AM
18/ The White House referred us to the FBI. A spokesperson said the FBI “ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins” or her campaign. The FBI did not address questions about the new phase of the inquiry prompted by Kao’s account.
Update: Kao's official English title is Alter Ego!
March 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Update: Kao's official English title is Alter Ego!
Playing Kao the Kangaroo and tell why the developers did all THIIIIISS with Kao's dad???????
November 30, 2023 at 1:12 AM
Playing Kao the Kangaroo and tell why the developers did all THIIIIISS with Kao's dad???????
21/ Reed did not respond to detailed questions. In an email, he wrote that he never communicated with Collins or her staff about Kao and/or Navatek.
Navatek founder Steven Loui said Kao’s methods were “unethical and illegal” and that Navatek fully complied with law enforcement.
Navatek founder Steven Loui said Kao’s methods were “unethical and illegal” and that Navatek fully complied with law enforcement.
September 22, 2026 at 11:24 AM
21/ Reed did not respond to detailed questions. In an email, he wrote that he never communicated with Collins or her staff about Kao and/or Navatek.
Navatek founder Steven Loui said Kao’s methods were “unethical and illegal” and that Navatek fully complied with law enforcement.
Navatek founder Steven Loui said Kao’s methods were “unethical and illegal” and that Navatek fully complied with law enforcement.
"Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company, one of Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: 'Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.'"
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September 22, 2026 at 1:42 PM
"Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company, one of Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: 'Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.'"
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water gun done in Josh Kao's class last year, and some other stuff on the side
April 29, 2025 at 4:04 AM
water gun done in Josh Kao's class last year, and some other stuff on the side
Collins' super PAC through the "Society of Young Women and found that organization actually a shell company traced back to Kao's wife.
"Inside Navatek, Kao shifted into damage control mode," ProPublica reported. "He spoke to [Scott Reed, head of
"Inside Navatek, Kao shifted into damage control mode," ProPublica reported. "He spoke to [Scott Reed, head of
September 22, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Collins' super PAC through the "Society of Young Women and found that organization actually a shell company traced back to Kao's wife.
"Inside Navatek, Kao shifted into damage control mode," ProPublica reported. "He spoke to [Scott Reed, head of
"Inside Navatek, Kao shifted into damage control mode," ProPublica reported. "He spoke to [Scott Reed, head of
n squad, and the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section collapsed. ProPublica reports the investigation sparked by Kao’s revelations “is dead.”
September 24, 2026 at 10:15 AM
n squad, and the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section collapsed. ProPublica reports the investigation sparked by Kao’s revelations “is dead.”
"Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company, one of Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”"
Holy crap. Susan Collins is finished.
What a corrupt POS. I hope she goes to prison for this.
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
What a corrupt POS. I hope she goes to prison for this.
www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
September 22, 2026 at 3:10 PM
"Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company, one of Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”"
Seven days after Susan Collins’ super PAC cashed the check from Martin Kao’s shell company, one of PAC head Scott Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
www.propublica.org
September 22, 2026 at 12:29 PM
Seven days after Susan Collins’ super PAC cashed the check from Martin Kao’s shell company, one of PAC head Scott Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”
Collins’ office “vigorously” denied Kao’s bribery allegations, calling them “outlandish”
The anti-corruption agents on the case were pushed out in Trump’s purge of the FBI. An FBI spokesman defended their ouster and said the bureau “ultimately found nothing” implicating Collins.
The anti-corruption agents on the case were pushed out in Trump’s purge of the FBI. An FBI spokesman defended their ouster and said the bureau “ultimately found nothing” implicating Collins.
September 22, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Collins’ office “vigorously” denied Kao’s bribery allegations, calling them “outlandish”
The anti-corruption agents on the case were pushed out in Trump’s purge of the FBI. An FBI spokesman defended their ouster and said the bureau “ultimately found nothing” implicating Collins.
The anti-corruption agents on the case were pushed out in Trump’s purge of the FBI. An FBI spokesman defended their ouster and said the bureau “ultimately found nothing” implicating Collins.
15/ ProPublica is revealing the existence of the case for the first time. We reviewed a trove of evidence gathered by the FBI and thousands of pages of legal records, and have independently corroborated much of Kao’s account.
This is the first piece of an ongoing series:
This is the first piece of an ongoing series:
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
www.propublica.org
September 22, 2026 at 11:07 AM
15/ ProPublica is revealing the existence of the case for the first time. We reviewed a trove of evidence gathered by the FBI and thousands of pages of legal records, and have independently corroborated much of Kao’s account.
This is the first piece of an ongoing series:
This is the first piece of an ongoing series:
"Whether or not Kao’s dealings with politicians amount to criminal bribery, the Trump Justice Department has little interest in finding out, and his sheer success reveals how easily influence is purchased in Washington today."
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September 22, 2026 at 12:52 PM
"Whether or not Kao’s dealings with politicians amount to criminal bribery, the Trump Justice Department has little interest in finding out, and his sheer success reveals how easily influence is purchased in Washington today."
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Peyrin Kao: "Every day, I have trouble getting out of bed. But my experience is nothing compared to what the people of Gaza have been going through. I don’t have to worry about being displaced or bombed. I don’t have to watch my children and loved ones starve in front of me."
Computer Science Lecturer at Berkeley Is on Day 36 of His Hunger Strike for Gaza
UC Berkeley turned lecturer Peyrin Kao’s name over to Trump, but that hasn’t stopped Kao’s solidarity organizing.
truthout.org
October 1, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Peyrin Kao: "Every day, I have trouble getting out of bed. But my experience is nothing compared to what the people of Gaza have been going through. I don’t have to worry about being displaced or bombed. I don’t have to watch my children and loved ones starve in front of me."
I don't really get all the backlash for Kao's MV I'm ngl to you all. I literally didn't think we were getting anything for it so I'm super pleased
April 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I don't really get all the backlash for Kao's MV I'm ngl to you all. I literally didn't think we were getting anything for it so I'm super pleased
prayer circle for Kao's boots starts now
February 13, 2026 at 6:05 PM
prayer circle for Kao's boots starts now
huge campaign donations, while Kao demanded guarantees of government business in return.
In order to get Kao’s illegal donations, Collins steered 32 million dollars of taxpayer money in naval contracts for Navatek, Kao’s company.
In order to get Kao’s illegal donations, Collins steered 32 million dollars of taxpayer money in naval contracts for Navatek, Kao’s company.
September 24, 2026 at 11:23 AM
huge campaign donations, while Kao demanded guarantees of government business in return.
In order to get Kao’s illegal donations, Collins steered 32 million dollars of taxpayer money in naval contracts for Navatek, Kao’s company.
In order to get Kao’s illegal donations, Collins steered 32 million dollars of taxpayer money in naval contracts for Navatek, Kao’s company.
The UC Berkeley administration's treatment of Peyrin Kao is outrageous. Speaking up against genocide is protected speech—and moral leadership. Berkeley of all universities should respect that.
www.dailycal.org/opinion/op-e...
www.dailycal.org/opinion/op-e...
Peyrin Kao’s suspension concerns more than free speech
In framing Kao’s case solely as a matter of free speech, we leave out two of the most important contexts that bear on its assessment.
www.dailycal.org
December 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
The UC Berkeley administration's treatment of Peyrin Kao is outrageous. Speaking up against genocide is protected speech—and moral leadership. Berkeley of all universities should respect that.
www.dailycal.org/opinion/op-e...
www.dailycal.org/opinion/op-e...
It's FebROOary and I wanted to point out Kao's sister Kaia from Kao the Kangaroo <3 I love her.
February 8, 2024 at 2:54 AM
It's FebROOary and I wanted to point out Kao's sister Kaia from Kao the Kangaroo <3 I love her.
ProPublica lays out this evidence. For ex: "Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company," someone from Collins's super PAC "emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: 'Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.'"
September 22, 2026 at 8:34 PM
ProPublica lays out this evidence. For ex: "Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check from Kao’s shell company," someone from Collins's super PAC "emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number: 'Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.'"
bro they even have a copy of the alleged bribe check lmfao
"This was the $150,000 Kao donated after the Corner Bakery meeting. The money had come from Navatek’s account, not Kao’s, violating a ban on government contractors making donations."
"This was the $150,000 Kao donated after the Corner Bakery meeting. The money had come from Navatek’s account, not Kao’s, violating a ban on government contractors making donations."
September 22, 2026 at 3:44 PM
bro they even have a copy of the alleged bribe check lmfao
"This was the $150,000 Kao donated after the Corner Bakery meeting. The money had come from Navatek’s account, not Kao’s, violating a ban on government contractors making donations."
"This was the $150,000 Kao donated after the Corner Bakery meeting. The money had come from Navatek’s account, not Kao’s, violating a ban on government contractors making donations."
Stuff Susan Collins and her team AREN'T saying:
--E-mails @propublica.org cited are fake
--We didn't pressure DoD to award Kao's corp military contracts
And they've offered conflicting stories re: if Collins called to thank Kao after his fake/shell company funneled her super PAC $150K #MEpolitics
--E-mails @propublica.org cited are fake
--We didn't pressure DoD to award Kao's corp military contracts
And they've offered conflicting stories re: if Collins called to thank Kao after his fake/shell company funneled her super PAC $150K #MEpolitics
9/23 Lingering questions about bribery allegations against Maine Senator Susan Collins drag story into a second day #maine #MEpolitics
September 23, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Stuff Susan Collins and her team AREN'T saying:
--E-mails @propublica.org cited are fake
--We didn't pressure DoD to award Kao's corp military contracts
And they've offered conflicting stories re: if Collins called to thank Kao after his fake/shell company funneled her super PAC $150K #MEpolitics
--E-mails @propublica.org cited are fake
--We didn't pressure DoD to award Kao's corp military contracts
And they've offered conflicting stories re: if Collins called to thank Kao after his fake/shell company funneled her super PAC $150K #MEpolitics
the contract $$$ coming thru immediately after legislation passed, Collins calling to thank Kao, the Navy not wanting or needing Kao's product, & the ultimate uselessness of Kao's product to the Navy.
September 27, 2026 at 6:41 PM
the contract $$$ coming thru immediately after legislation passed, Collins calling to thank Kao, the Navy not wanting or needing Kao's product, & the ultimate uselessness of Kao's product to the Navy.
