Scott Reed denies communicating with Collins about Kao or Navatek
Scott ReedChair of 1820 PAC
Reed disputes the alleged communications link between his dealings with Kao and Collins or her staff.
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.
“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.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Did Susan Collins Trade Federal Contract Support for Navatek Campaign Donations?
Former Navatek chief executive Martin Kao told FBI agents that Susan Collins and people around her knowingly participated in an arrangement connecting campaign support to federal-contract assistance. Collins's office, an FBI spokesperson and several participants dispute that account. Criminal proceedings and an FEC settlement established illegal contributions by Navatek-linked actors, but no public charge or court finding establishes that Collins knowingly joined a quid pro quo.
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
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 “Challenged the characterization” is more precise than a full denial.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Martin Kao, Susan Collins
More from this case
Read the full caseCollins calls the Navatek allegations completely false
“The allegations are completely false ... We have a picture of his meeting with me and with other people in my office that is many months before he ever made a single contribution ... He spun this story up again in the hopes that the judge would be lenient, or the prosecutor would be.”Read statement
Abbott says a photo disproves the claim that Kao had to donate before meeting Collins
“ProPublica has the theory that Martin Kao, based on Martin Kao's word, had to make a donation before he could get in to see Susan Collins. As you can see from that picture, it's not true”Read statement
Collins campaign says it has no record of Collins calling Kao to thank him
“Neither Susan Collins nor anyone who worked for her believes that she made a call”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Scott Reed denies communicating with Collins about Kao or Navatek
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/1517-reed-disputes-the-alleged-communications-link-between-his
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The Dispute Index. "Scott Reed denies communicating with Collins about Kao or Navatek". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1517-reed-disputes-the-alleged-communications-link-between-his