9/ By early 2025, the FBI agents had already seized a trove of records from Navatek, and they could see that much of Kao’s account was lining up. At this point, the FBI was actively investigating Graham, Clyburn and Wilson’s interactions with Kao.

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8/ Navatek struck another cash-for-contracts deal with Wilson, Kao told the FBI, at a private lunch he got by donating to Wilson’s campaign. Wilson, who has an influential role on the Armed Services Committee, wanted however much Clyburn was getting, Kao said.

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7/ One month later, a Navatek executive would arrange for a $10,000 gift to Clyburn’s alma mater, South Carolina State University, according to an email we reviewed. An executive noted that it was “Congressman Clyburn’s favorite school.”

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6/ Over a meal, Rep. Clyburn asked Kao how much he was donating to Graham and then asked for the same amount, $100,000, Kao told the FBI. The FBI tallied $20,000 in contributions Kao and his family made to Clyburn only a few days after their scheduled meeting.

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5/ In South Carolina, Navatek considered Graham its chief patron. But the company also wanted support in the House, internal records reveal. For that, Kao turned to the state’s top Democrat, Rep. James Clyburn, and another influential Republican, Rep. Joe Wilson.

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