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Coverage dated September 22, 2026 to September 25, 2026

Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle

Headline from Forbes, from the development of Sep 22, 2026

Newest development Sep 23, 2026 · 4 reportsSusan Collins’ Campaign Is Eager to Put Corruption Allegations to Rest

The senator’s office has “vigorously” denied any wrongdoing, while Collins’ opponent Troy Jackson called the report “corruption of the highest order.”

Forbes's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Names this update

    Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle

    Headline from Forbes ·

  2. Newest

    Susan Collins’ Campaign Is Eager to Put Corruption Allegations to Rest

    Headline from NOTUS ·

5 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

29 articles, oldest first.

  1. ProPublica

    The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way (opens ProPublica)

    Published

    Maine Public's feed description

    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 administration dismantled the unit handling the inquiry.

  2. Jezebel

    Turns Out Susan Collins Was Way More of a Sellout Than We Thought (opens Jezebel)

    Published

    Jezebel's feed description

    Per ProPublica, Collins was the subject of a massive bribery probe conducted by the FBI in 2024.

  3. The New Republic

    FBI Was Targeting Susan Collins in Bombshell Bribery Probe—Until Trump (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    A massive new report from ProPublica shows that the FBI was investigating Republican Senator Susan Collins for an alleged illegal pay-to-play scheme with a defense contractor—until the Trump administration killed it. In 2019, Collins Super PAC head Scott Reed met at a D.C.

  4. Truthout

    Trump’s FBI Scrapped Bribery Investigation Linked to Sen. Susan Collins (opens Truthout)

    Published

    Truthout's feed description

    A top donor told agents his company won millions in federal contracts by bankrolling campaigns of powerful politicians.

  5. Rolling Stone

    Susan Collins Was Target of Federal Bribery Case … Until Trump Gutted the FBI (opens Rolling Stone)

    Published

    Rolling Stone's feed description

    Documents obtained by ProPublica suggest the senator flexed her power to secure government contracts for donors

  6. MS Now

    FBI’s anti-corruption team eyed Susan Collins’ operation. Then Trump’s purge began. (opens MS Now)

    Published

    MS Now's feed description

    With time running out ahead of Election Day, the Maine Republican’s Democratic rival said of the allegations, “This is corruption of the highest order.”

  7. Forbes

    Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle (opens Forbes)

    Published

    Forbes's feed description

    The senator’s office has “vigorously” denied any wrongdoing, while Collins’ opponent Troy Jackson called the report “corruption of the highest order.”

  8. The Boston Globe

    Key takeaways from a ProPublica report on the FBI’s anti-corruption squad looking into Senator Susan Collins (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    The details of the FBI investigation published 42 days before Collins faces a tough reelection bid against progressive Troy Jackson.

  9. Washington Examiner

    Susan Collins aide dismisses ProPublica corruption allegation as ‘categorically false’ (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    The office of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) dismissed a Tuesday report suggesting the longtime senator was under FBI scrutiny as it looked into pay-to-play allegations in the final months of the Biden administration.

  10. NOTUS

    Susan Collins Denies Wrongdoing After Bombshell Report on FBI Corruption Probe (opens NOTUS)

    Published

    NOTUS's feed description

    The FBI reportedly investigated ties between Collins’ campaign and a military contractor roughly seven years ago.

  11. Newsweek

    Susan Collins Blasted by Troy Jackson Over FBI Probe Report—‘Corruption’ (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    GOP Senator Susan Collins is facing her most competitive race yet in Maine against Democrat Troy Jackson.

  12. Maine Public

    Democrats accuse Susan Collins of 'corruption' following report on alleged pay-to-play scheme (opens Maine Public)

    Published

    Maine Public's feed description

    Collins' office as well as FBI officials have said the allegations — contained in an investigative report from ProPublica — are completely false. But Democrats clearly hope to convince voters otherwise in the final six weeks of the fall election campaign.

  13. MS Now

    Susan Collins’ brush with an FBI probe shows how Trump has enabled public corruption (opens MS Now)

    Published

    MS Now's feed description

    But there are clear ways for future presidents and lawmakers to end this era of graft.

  14. Portland Press Herald

    Facing heat from Democrats, Collins team calls corruption allegations ‘outrageous’ (opens Portland Press Herald)

    Published

    Portland Press Herald's feed description

    Collins campaign manager Steve Abbott said the story was a rerun of similar claims made during her 2020 campaign.

  15. Fox News

    Susan Collins tears into bribery allegations as new claims emerge during critical Senate battle (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    Maine Sen. Susan Collins dismissed the FBI bribery probe as a "political hit job," questioning convicted fraudster Martin Kao's credibility.

  16. ABC News

    Collins denies allegations in corruption report: 'Absolutely outrageous' (opens ABC News)

    Published

    ABC News's feed description

    The ProPublica report said a GOP consultant asked a defense firm for big donations to her campaign in exchange for millions in federal funding.

  17. NOTUS

    Susan Collins’ Campaign Is Eager to Put Corruption Allegations to Rest (opens NOTUS)

    Published

    NOTUS's feed description

    The senator is fighting a tough reelection race in a year when corruption is a sticky message.

  18. The Guardian

    Democrats accuse Susan Collins of corruption after bombshell ‘pay-to-play’ report (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Republican senator calls bribery allegation ‘categorically false’ as ProPublica reports Trump derailed FBI inquiry Democrats in Maine on Wednesday accused Republican senator Susan Collins of corruption after a major media outlet reported that the FBI had proposed investigating her for allegedly acce…

  19. Portland Press Herald

    ProPublica debunks Susan Collins’ claims about FBI anti-corruption probe (opens Portland Press Herald)

    Published

    Portland Press Herald's feed description

    A recent story revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations, but the unit in charge was gutted by the Trump administration.

  20. The New Republic

    Susan Collins’s Flimsy Corruption Defense Collapses (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, trying to refute corruption allegations, may have just proven them. Earlier this week, ProPublica exposed Collins’s involvement in an alleged illegal pay-to-pay scheme with a defense contractor. Collins has denied the allegations.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.