Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Donald Trump over the past two years, which he chose to dismiss this week, may have cost U.S. taxpayers more than $50 million, according to a Justice Department spending report. is high.
Financial disclosure from the Office of the Special Counsel The investigation found that from mid-November 2022, when Smith was appointed special prosecutor, to March 31, 2023, his office incurred approximately $9.25 million in expenses. A second disclosure of the office's expenses for the subsequent six months showed that the office's expenses increased to approximately $14.66 million. Meanwhile, the third and most recent spending report available shows Smith's office spent about $11.84 million between October 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
These costs include both direct and indirect costs, the latter provided through various agencies of the Department of Justice.
President Trump's nominee for attorney general, Pam Bondi, hails her as “loyal” and “qualified” for the role of top U.S. prosecutor.
Spending amounts for each month from April 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024 have not yet been announced, but the average for the three reported periods is approximately $12 million.
Adding this estimate to the figures for the three publicly available reporting periods brings the amount spent by Mr. Smith's office to approximately $47.5 million since his appointment.
The latest indictment against former President Trump, Walt Nauta, and Carlos de Oliveira (photo taken on July 27, 2023). (AP Photo/John Elswick)
However, this estimate does not include spending from September 30 to the present, meaning total spending will likely exceed $50 million. Newsweek magazine reported earlier this month.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November 2022 to oversee the federal investigation into Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents.
Following an exhaustive nearly two-year investigation and other incidents in which Trump turned himself in to authorities for a mug shot, Smith on Monday filed a lawsuit against the former president, citing procedural standards that prevent prosecutions of sitting presidents. filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
Jack Smith drops lawsuit, Trump scores major legal victory
Jack Smith speaks at a press conference on August 1, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The judge overseeing the election interference case agreed to drop the charges, but a decision on the classified documents case was still pending as of Monday night. According to the Associated Press.
Trump responded Responding to the judge's decision on Monday, he said the investigation he was subjected to was “vacuous and lawless”, adding that it “should never have been brought”.
Before questioning state and district attorneys, including Fulton County Attorney Fannie Willis, Manhattan Prosecutor Alvin Bragg, and New York State Attorney General Letitia James, President Trump said, “We've never seen anything like this before in our country.'' has never happened,” he wrote on Truth Social. President Trump “conducted an inappropriate, unethical and possibly illegal 'GETTING TRUMP' campaign,” he said.
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FOX News Digital reached out to the Justice Department and the White House for comment, but did not receive a response before publication.
