Special Counsel's Trump Probe Costs Soar, Totaling $18 Million
Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations into former President Trump have cost $18 million. Other special counsels' expenses were also disclosed, highlighting the financial aspects of high-profile legal cases.
The U.S. Department of Justice has released financial details regarding Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations into former President Donald Trump. The report indicates that Smith's office has incurred an additional $6.6 million in expenses, bringing the total cost to over $18 million since his appointment in November 2022.
The majority of the expenditure, $4.1 million, was allocated to employee salaries during the period from October 2023 to March 2024. Litigation support, including investigative resources and information technology, accounted for $1.4 million. The remaining $1 million covered operational expenses such as rent, travel, and utilities.
It's worth noting that the Office of the Special Counsel, a permanent independent federal agency, covered these expenses. Additionally, other Justice Department divisions contributed $5.2 million to assist with the investigations during the same period.
Smith's appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland led to two grand jury indictments against Trump. The first, filed in Florida, pertains to the alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstruction of government efforts to retrieve them. The second, filed in Washington, D.C., accuses Trump of conspiring to obstruct the 2020 election results. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Both cases have encountered legal hurdles. A Florida judge dismissed the Mar-a-Lago case, citing an unconstitutional appointment argument, which Smith's team is appealing. The D.C. case was delayed by a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity but is set to resume with a hearing in early September 2024.
"The Office of the Special Counsel remains committed to conducting thorough and impartial investigations, regardless of the associated costs."
The Justice Department also disclosed expenses for other special counsels. Robert K. Hur, who investigated President Joe Biden's handling of classified information post-vice presidency, spent $2.48 million from October 2023 to March 2024. David C. Weiss, overseeing cases involving Hunter Biden, reported $2.3 million in expenses since his August 2023 appointment.
These financial disclosures highlight the significant resources allocated to high-profile legal investigations, underscoring the complexity and importance of such cases in the American justice system.
