The Biden-Harris administration has reportedly spent at least $50 million of taxpayer money pursuing President-elect Donald Trump in two federal criminal cases.
fox news digital A review of Justice Department spending reports showed that the Office of Special Counsel, led by Jack Smith, incurred $9.25 million in costs from November 2022 to March 2023. A subsequent report showed that an additional $14.66 million was spent over the next six months. An additional $11.84 million was spent between October 2023 and March 2024. Spending from April 2024 to September 2024 has not yet been reported, but is estimated to be approximately $12 million, based on averages for previously reported periods.
“Empty and lawless.”
Therefore, since Smith's appointment at the end of 2022, the firm has reportedly spent an estimated total of approximately $47.5 million.
The news organization said the expenditures included both direct and indirect costs related to two federal prosecutions that Mr. Smith oversaw.
newsweek reported earlier this month that the total could be “well over” $50 million, including spending after September 30.
In the end, the Biden administration's relentless legal action against Trump came to a screeching halt in the wake of the presidential election results.
In the summer, Judge Eileen Cannon of the Southern District of Florida dismissed one of Smith's federal lawsuits against Trump, which accused the president-elect of mishandling classified documents. At the time of his dismissal, Cannon ruled that Smith's appointment as special prosecutor was unconstitutional. Smith filed an appeal, but moved to put the request on hold earlier this month.
Mr. Smith on Monday requested the dismissal of another federal lawsuit against Mr. Trump for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Smith cited a long-standing policy that prevents the Justice Department from bringing criminal charges against sitting presidents. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan approved Mr. Smith has moved to dismiss the case without prejudice, giving him the option to reopen the case in the future.
But CNN senior legal analyst Ellie Honig said, explained He spoke Tuesday about why he believes the federal case won't be reopened after Trump takes office, even though it was dismissed without prejudice.
“Yes, technically the case was dismissed without prejudice. That technically means someone could come back in four years and bring these charges again.” said Honig. “It's not going to go away mathematically. It's not going to happen for a number of reasons. First of all, four years from now is an eternity. Whoever the next president is in 2029, the next attorney general is going to take care of this case.” I don't think they have any intention of reviving it.'' ”
Honig also said that “there are moves that President Donald Trump's Justice Department could take” to eliminate that possibility.
“They can go back to the courtroom and say, 'I want to switch this from unbiased to biased.' That means you can't change it back. Who knows? “Donald Trump may try to pardon himself, but this is something we've never seen before,” he continued. “So I have no expectations that this case will be prosecuted in 2029.”
Trump currently faces only two state-level charges: New York and Georgia. But the judge overseeing his criminal case in New York, where he was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, agreed to reconsider the defense's request to dismiss the case. The Georgia case is still pending in court, and there is speculation that the case may also be dismissed due to the possible disbarment of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social on Monday following the recent lawsuit dismissal.
“These lawsuits, like all the others I've been forced to take, are empty and lawless and should never have been filed. Over $100 million in battles with Democrats and political opponents. Taxpayers were wasted. I, nothing like this has ever happened in our country,” he said. I wrote.
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