This expenditure includes expenses related to staffing, resources, and other investigative efforts. The investigation aims to examine various aspects of Trump’s actions and potential legal implications. It is important to note that investigations of this nature can be complex and time-consuming, involving significant financial resources.
The Justice Department’s investigation into former President Donald Trump has incurred approximately $9 million in costs during its first four months, indicating an active and wide-ranging start to the probe. Special counsel Jack Smith and his team spent $5.4 million, while the Justice Department incurred an additional $3.8 million in expenses related to the investigation into Trump’s mishandling of classified material and his actions preceding the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
Nearly half of the team’s expenditures were allocated to salaries and benefits for office members and DOJ employees assigned to the team. Another portion of the funds was used to pay contractors providing investigative assistance, transcription, IT support, and other services. Other expenses included transportation costs, equipment for future DOJ use, supplies, and rent.
The $3.8 million in Justice Department expenses also covered the costs of investigative support analysts and Smith’s protective detail, reflecting the heightened political climate surrounding the special counsel’s office.
In June, Smith’s team indicted Trump on 37 felony counts related to his retention of sensitive documents after leaving office and obstruction of justice. Trump pleaded not guilty during his arraignment, and his trial is tentatively scheduled for August but is likely to be delayed upon request from both prosecutors and Trump’s legal team. Smith is also investigating Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol insurrection and attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, although no charges have been filed as part of that investigation yet.
These figures provide a snapshot of the initial scope of the probe. For comparison, special counsel John Durham spent over $9 million in a 3 1/2-year investigation into the origins of the Russia probe, and Robert Mueller’s investigation itself cost nearly $32 million before its conclusion in 2020.