Special Counsel John Durham Spent $6.5 Million On Investigation That Uncovered Almost Nothing

John Durham, the special counsel investigating the probe into Donald Trump‘s ties with Russia in the 2016 election, has spent more than $6.5 million on the investigation. More than $2 million has been spent this year alone.

The findings are according to financial documents released Friday by the Justice Department.

The documents reveal $6.5 million was spent between October 2020 and September 2022. The probe started in 2019 while Durham was an acting U.S. attorney – meaning the effort has an even higher price tag.

One million dollars was spent on the employee’s 2022 salary, $220,000 was on travel and more than $600,000 was spent on IT support and contractual services.

The financial expenditures have far outpaced expectations for the probe – no current government officials have been charged with a crime.

The probe has produced only one conviction: Kevin Clinesmith, a low-level FBI lawyer, was found guilty of forgery. Clinesmith did not go to jail after entering a guilty plea.

The investigation is in its final stages and is expected to hand over documents to Attorney General Merrick Garland. Garland has repeatedly stated that he wants to release as many findings as possible.

In 2019, then-Attorney General Bill Barr appointed Durham to investigate Robert Meuller‘s probe into Trump. They believed it would produce evidence that government officials conspired against Trump but found almost no wrongdoing.

Article by Ben Shimkus