More than 250 Mainers request attorney general investigate Collins corruption allegations

More than 250 people sent a letter to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey Wednesday requesting that his office investigate corruption allegations against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. 

The group argues that a state statute would permit such an investigation because it governs state election laws and does not distinguish between state officials or federal officials. Title 17-A M.R.S.A. Section 33 states that the Maine Attorney General “shall” designate the deputy attorney general or an assistant attorney general to investigate alleged violations of election law.

Among the signees is the state’s former Public Advocate Bill Harwood, who told press during a virtual meeting that he is not aware of a precedent for evoking a state law to conduct such an investigation.

“But I think we live in unprecedented times,” Harwood said. “We’re seeing a level of corruption we have never seen before, so it’s one of those situations where if the federal government isn’t going to do its job, then we need somebody to do it.” 

Danna Hayes, director of public affairs for the Maine Attorney General’s Office, confirmed they received the letter and are reviewing it.

Collins has continued to deny her alleged involvement in a pay-for-play scheme, new details of which were revealed by ProPublica last month. The senator’s campaign staff did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Collins’ staff has said the FBI has not contacted them since 2021, when it was investigating her donor, Martin Kao, the former CEO of defense contractor Navatek, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to illegal campaign contributions involving a pro-Collins super PAC. No one in Collins’ orbit was charged as a result of the investigation then.

But ProPublica reported that the FBI was looking into the senator again in recent years — that was until Donald Trump returned to office for a second term and the probe died as part of his purge of the bureau. 

“With all due respect to Senator Collins, I just don’t think her denial can be the end of this,” Harwood said. “I think we need to have an independent investigation, and if it turns out that she’s done nothing wrong that should be the result of the investigation. But simply denying it, I don’t think is going to satisfy the people in Maine, especially the 250 people who have signed this letter.”

Several signees on the press call said they would not expect such an investigation to be completed before the election on Nov. 3. 

“So, in terms of consequences on the election, I don’t think we see that as an issue,” said Jamie Kilbreth, an attorney with Drummond Woodsum who was the lead lawyer in the State of Maine’s litigation against the tobacco industry in which it secured a landmark $1.5 billion settlement.

Janis Cohen, a retired attorney, added, “I would think that the senator’s office would welcome an investigation, and if there was no foul deed, terrific, and then everybody will know that.” 

This letter comes after attorney Valerie Adams, who unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for Cumberland County district attorney, filed a formal ethics complaint against Collins with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics earlier this month.