(AP) — U.S. authorities are investigating a Hawaiʻi-based defense contractor for illegally donating $150,000 to the re-election fund of a Maine senator who advocated for an $8 million Navy contract with the company. A warrant application says Martin Kao, former CEO of Navatek, now known as Martin Defense Group, concealed the donation to a political action committee supporting U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ reelection. A spokeswoman Collins says the campaign had no knowledge of anything alleged in the warrant. A defense attorney for Kao didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. A Martin Defense Group spokeswoman says the company is cooperating with the investigation.

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