A new investigation alleges a defense contractor funneled money to Susan Collins' super PAC through a shell company in exchange for Navy contracts, and that the FBI probe into it was shut down under Trump — bad news for Collins as she faces reelection in Maine.

• A contractor executive, already convicted in a bribery case, says he routed $150,000 to Collins' super PAC through a fake nonprofit to get around the ban on defense contractors giving to campaigns.
• Emails show he was told the money would be noticed, and Collins' office then pushed the Navy to steer contracts his way — tens of millions in funding followed.
• Collins' campaign says it returned the money and cooperated with the FBI, but a thank-you call arranged a week after the check cleared suggests the campaign and super PAC were talking to each other, which is itself illegal.
• The work the company sold was reportedly close to worthless — research and 3D-printed boats the Navy never used — with a slice laundered through the University of Maine.
• The pattern looks bipartisan: the contractor's key strategist was a former chief of staff to a Democratic senator, and more names, including Lindsey Graham, are expected.

Outlook: Expect further reporting naming other senators, with the FBI's decision to drop the case becoming its own political fight in an election year.