The FBI conducted an investigation into whether the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) participated in a bribery scheme involving Hawaiian defense contractor Navatek. According to reports published Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the investigation focused on allegations that the lawmakers directed federal research contracts to the firm in exchange for campaign contributions. The FBI investigation is currently inactive following the disbandment of the specialized public corruption units that were handling the case.
Navatek, founded in 1979, sought new political connections in Washington following the 2012 death of its longtime patron, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI). Martin Kao, who became the company’s owner and CEO, allegedly implemented a strategy called "the method" to secure government funding. This involved opening offices in the districts of influential lawmakers and partnering with local universities to request federal research grants. FBI records and internal company emails reportedly showed that the firm targeted members of appropriations and armed services committees.
Kao, who is currently serving an 87-month prison sentence for loan fraud and illegal campaign donations, told FBI agents that he met with Graham at a Washington D.C. steakhouse in March 2020. Kao alleged that Graham agreed to steer a $10 million contract to Navatek in exchange for a $100,000 pledge to his reelection campaign. Similar allegations were made regarding Clyburn and Wilson, who Kao claimed sought campaign funds in exchange for legislative support. Spokespeople for all three lawmakers denied the allegations, characterizing Kao as a convicted felon whose claims are false. A Graham spokesperson stated the office supported the funding at the request of the University of South Carolina and the Navy.
The investigation's cessation marks a shift in how the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI handle public corruption cases. The disbandment of the teams investigating these lawmakers occurred after President Trump returned to the White House in 2025. While two former Navatek executives, Duke Hartman and Joshua Knight, were named as subjects in the FBI probe, they were never charged and later founded a new company, Integer Technologies. This new firm eventually became the beneficiary of the government contract Graham allegedly facilitated. The FBI told reporters that the ProPublica report was based on "half-baked misleading claims" and stated that personnel are only removed from the agency for unethical behavior or undermining the mission.
The case is currently considered "dead" because the investigators and prosecutors previously assigned to it are no longer with their respective units. No new charges have been filed against the lawmakers or the former executives involved. Darline Graham is currently seeking a full term in the November 2026 election, while Clyburn and Wilson remain in office. The Department of Justice's anti-corruption section has reportedly been restricted from filing new cases of this nature by current administration appointees.