University of Maine disputes ProPublica's characterization of its Navatek-linked research
University of MaineUniversity of Maine spokesperson (Samantha Warren), speaking for the university
University of Maine spokesperson Samantha Warren says ProPublica misrepresented UMaine's research and Collins's role supporting it, clarifies that the Navy funding was for basic research rather than the 3D-printed boat itself, and says UMaine has not worked with Navatek or its successor since 2021.
“misrepresented UMaine's research and development, which Senator Collins has long and effectively championed”
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.
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Reporting
About this source
Bangor Daily News reporting on how the University of Maine was drawn into the ProPublica story, including on-the-record responses from UMaine spokesperson Samantha Warren disputing ProPublicas characterization of Navy-funded research, clarifying the Navy funding was for basic research rather than boat purchases, and saying UMaine has not worked with Navatek or its successor since 2021.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
After ProPublica reported that a Navy-funded, Navatek-linked 3D-printed boat project run with a University of Maine engineering center was part of the alleged pay-to-play arrangement involving Collins, the Bangor Daily News asked the university about its role and relationship to Navatek.
After the quotation
Warren said the Navy's funding was meant to demonstrate that the materials and manufacturing process could produce a 3D-printed boat, not to buy the boat itself, and that in her understanding UMaine has not interacted with Navatek or the company it later became since 2021; she did not answer questions about how long UMaine had worked with Navatek.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
On whether Collins traded federal contract support for Navatek donations, UMaine's spokesperson does not take a position on Collins's conduct toward Navatek. Instead she disputes how ProPublica characterized the university's own research relationship, correcting that Navy funding supported basic research rather than boat purchases and noting the university's work with Navatek ended by 2021. That challenges the story's description of UMaine's role without endorsing or condemning Collins's alleged exchange.
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- 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. "University of Maine disputes ProPublica's characterization of its Navatek-linked research". First published: 2026-09-24. Last updated: 2026-09-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/1551-university-of-maine-spokesperson-samantha-warren-says-propublica