In an unprecedented disclosure of expenditures, the special counsel overseeing the federal investigation into former President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents has spent a staggering $5.5 million in the initial four months of the probe.
The statement of expenditures from November 2022 to March 2023, released by the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith, provides insights into how taxpayer funds are being utilized for the investigation. Notably, Smith has also been entrusted with leading the Department of Justice’s inquiry into the events of January 6.
According to the disclosure, Smith’s investigations have accounted for a total expenditure of $5,428,579, with a significant portion, approximately $1.8 million, allocated for “contractual services.” In comparison, Special Counsel Robert Hur, tasked with investigating President Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents from his vice presidency, has spent $615,962 since assuming the role earlier this year.
The detailed breakdown reveals that out of the total, $1,881,926 was dedicated to “litigation/investigative support,” $143,493 was allocated for “IT services,” $63,151 was utilized for “transcripts,” and a modest $335 was allocated for “other services.” Additionally, over $2.6 million was expended on personnel compensation and benefits, while $456,808 went towards “rent, communications, and utilities.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice informed Fox News Digital that Smith inherited two ongoing investigations that were already well underway, which accounted for the majority of the funds allocated towards litigation and staff expenses.
Comparatively, since 2020, Special Counsel John Durham, investigating Russian interference in U.S. elections, has reported a total expenditure of $7,683,839. It is noteworthy that Smith’s four-month expenditure surpasses 70% of Durham’s total cost for an investigation spanning two and a half years.
Smith has faced scrutiny ever since Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed him to spearhead the investigation into the sensitive documents discovered at Mar-a-Lago. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia recently introduced a bill aimed at defunding Smith’s office amidst the ongoing investigation, further intensifying the debate surrounding the probe.