# How Trump’s FBI purge saved Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn from a bribery investigation > Trump’s FBI purge blocked bribery case against South Carolina lawmakers. - Title: How Trump’s FBI purge saved Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn… - Summary: Trump’s FBI purge blocked bribery case against South Carolina lawmakers. Trump’s administration ended FBI’s corruption probe into bribery scheme involving… - Keywords: lindsey graham, james clyburn, navatek, fbi, bribery, congress, campaign donations, senator, south carolina, fbi purge, corruption investigation, government contracts - Source: Salon — https://salon.com/2026/10/20/how-trumps-fbi-purge-saved-lindsey-graham-and-james-clyburn-from-a-bribery-investigation-partner - Author: Molly Redden - Published: 2026-10-20T13:53:51+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: lindsey graham, james clyburn, navatek, fbi, bribery, congress, campaign donations, senator, south carolina, fbi purge, corruption investigation, government contracts ## Navatek’s campaign cash deal Navatek’s CEO Martin Kao met Sen. Lindsey Graham for $40,000 in campaign contributions. > Shoot all he has to really do is stop by and say 'yes' ## Graham’s $10 million contract Graham agreed to steer a $10 million government contract for Navatek in exchange for $100,000. > This is how much I want, and how much I am going to give you ## FBI investigation launched FBI opened bribery investigation in early 2025 after Kao confessed to bribing lawmakers. > Kao told agents that his business model consisted of bribing public officials ## Kao’s bribery network Kao targeted South Carolina lawmakers including Rep. James Clyburn and Rep. Joe Wilson. > Kao told agents that Graham in particular left little room for ambiguity ## FBI’s corruption probe FBI agents named two Navatek executives as subjects of bribery investigation. > The FBI took the formal step of naming two former Navatek executives ## Trump’s FBI purge Trump gutted FBI’s anti-corruption teams, removing two experienced agents from the case. > President Donald Trump returned to the White House and almost immediately gutted the specialized FBI ## Case abandoned No one remains to prosecute Kao’s bribery claims after Trump’s purge of anti-corruption teams. > Today, there is no one left to look into Kao’s explosive allegations ## Kao’s prison sentence Kao served 87 months in prison for illegal campaign donations and loan fraud. > Kao pleaded guilty to making illegal campaign donations and a loan fraud scheme in 2022 ## Graham’s successor Graham’s sister Darline Graham retained his staff and committee assignments. > Darline Graham is running for a full term in office this November ## Clyburn’s influence Clyburn remains influential on national defense spending through Armed Services Committee. > Clyburn is one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington ## Wilson’s role Wilson remains influential on national defense spending from Armed Services Committee. > Wilson remains influential on national defense spending from his senior perch ## Navatek’s new company Hartman and Knight founded Integer Technologies after Kao’s arrest. > Hartman and Knight started a new naval research company called Integer Technologies ## Integer’s growth Integer reported $81 million in contracts and projected $375 million by 2030. > Last year, it reported $81 million in contracts and announced that number would climb to $375 million by 2030 ## Kao’s prison reflection Kao called the scheme 'corruption at its best' while serving prison time. > [It’s] corruption at its best. But I am the only one rotting in prison ## FBI’s abandoned case FBI agents stopped investigating after Trump’s purge of anti-corruption teams. > The corruption investigation, just launched, suddenly went dark ## Trump’s DOJ purge Trump’s administration removed DOJ’s anti-corruption section from handling cases. > The president’s handpicked leaders ordered prosecutors to drop a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams ## Key takeaway Trump’s administration ended FBI’s corruption probe into bribery scheme involving South Carolina lawmakers and a defense contractor.