Democrats accuse Susan Collins of corruption after bombshell ‘pay-to-play’ report

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 accepting bribes - before Donald Trump derailed the inquiry.

The article from the investigative newsroom ProPublica rocked the race for Collins's Senate seat, which is crucial to Democrats' hopes of winning control of the chamber in the 3 November midterm election. The outlet reported that in the run-up to Collins's successful bid for a fifth term in 2020, the head of her Super Pac had solicited a campaign donation from contracting firm Navatek, which demanded assurances of business from the government in return.