- Smith spent $5.4 million during the first five months of his investigation, when he indicted Trump over his handling of classified records.
- Durham completed his four-year inquiry in May, which cost nearly $7.7 million.
WASHINGTON – Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith spent $5.4 million during his first five months of his probe investigating Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and attempt to overturn the 2020 election, according to filings Friday.
In addition, former special counsel John Durham spent $1.1 million during the final six months of his inquiry into the origins of the Russia investigation. Spending on Durham’s four-year investigation totaled nearly $7.7 million.
And special counsel Robert Hur spent $615,000 during the first six months of his investigation of President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Having three special counsels operating at once is unusual. The filings for the six months ending March 31 offer a broad outline of the scope of the various investigations. For example, Durham’s spending peaked last year amid two trials. Smith indicted Trump in the classified documents probe and continues to investigate potential election fraud. Hur hasn’t yet announced findings.
Here is what we know about the various probes:
Smith’s investigation of Trump
Attorney General Merrick Garland took the unprecedented step of appointing Smith in November to investigate Trump criminally.
Smith indicted Trump and his personal valet, Walt Nauta, in June on charges of wilfull retention of national security documents and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Trump and Nauta each pleaded not guilty.
Smith’s investigation continues into whether Trump interfered with the transfer of power after the 2020 election or the counting of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters ransacked the Capitol.
Durham’s investigation of the origin of the Russia probe
Former Attorney General Bill Barr asked Durham in May 2019 to review the origins of the FBI investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election and appointed him special counsel in October 2019.
Durham’s final report in May criticized the FBI but recommended no wholesale changes because new leadership at the agency had already adopted dozens of changes after an inspector general’s inquiry.
Lawmakers divided along party lines about Durham’s findings.
Hur’s investigation of Biden’s classified documents
Garland appointed Hur in January to investigate Biden’s handling of classified documents found at a former office, which he occupied between his terms as vice president and president, and at his Delaware home.
Trump has asserted he was charged in a political prosecution after FBI agents searched Mar-a-Lago a year ago and found hundreds of classified documents from the White House he had left a year-and-a-half earlier.
Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence each volunteered finding classified documents after the Trump search and cooperated with authorities retrieving them.
