Scott Reed denies communicating with Collins about Kao or Navatek
Chair of 1820 PAC
“I understand Martin Kao is now sitting in federal prison. I never had any communications with Senator Collins [or] her staff about Martin Kao and/or Navatek.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Anchor investigation reporting previously undisclosed FBI cooperation interviews, internal company emails, campaign and lobbying communications, and responses from Collins's office, the FBI, Scott Reed, Glen Mandigo, Andy Winer and Steven Loui. The article says Kao had credibility incentives and that no one working for Collins was charged.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
ProPublica reported that Reed asked Navatek executives for a large PAC contribution, responded approvingly to Kao's shell-company plan and that a PAC staffer later sought Kao's number because Collins wanted to thank him.
After the quotation
Reed did not answer the outlet's detailed questions about the meeting, donation or Kao's broader account.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: Susan Collins knowingly participated in a pay-to-play arrangement in which Navatek campaign support was exchanged for her office's assistance obtaining federal contracts.
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to the alleged knowing Collins–Navatek exchange, Reed denies communicating with Collins or her staff about Kao or Navatek. The statement contests a key attribution but does not deny every part of the alleged arrangement, so challenges_characterization is more precise than a full denial.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Martin Kao, Susan Collins
Did Susan Collins Trade Federal Contract Support for Navatek Campaign Donations?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“This is corruption of the highest order. Susan Collins delivered millions in taxpayer dollars for a corrupt donor bankrolling her campaign, and then Donald Trump helped her cover it up.”Read statement
“The seven-year-old allegations made against Senator Collins and her staff in this piece are categorically false. There have never been any allegations of wrongdoing by the Collins for Senator campaign, and the campaign was never the target of the FBI investigation.”Read statement
“The company received no Collins-supported funding after Martin Kao's arrest, nor should it. What Martin Kao and his cabal did was wrong.”Read statement