Posted on 05/31/2018 5:14:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has cost nearly $17 million dollars so far, according to a new report from the Justice Department.
Robert Mueller's team of prosecutors and FBI special agents has spent by far the most money on covering salaries, followed by rent and information technology services, the statement of expenditures says.
The office has been operating for just over a year — since May 17, 2017, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, the former FBI director. His task is to get to the bottom of Russian manipulation surrounding the election and whether there were any links or coordination with the Trump campaign.
Earlier this month, President Trump tweeted the probe was a "soon to be $20,000,000 Witch Hunt, composed of 13 Angry and Heavily Conflicted Democrats and two people who have worked for Obama for 8 years, STOP!"
Some of the attorneys working for Mueller have made campaign contributions to Democrats or have other such political connections. By law, Mueller is barred from considering political affiliation when hiring for career posts inside the Justice Department.
Special counsel lawyers have secured guilty pleas from Trump foreign policy aide George Papadopoulos, onetime national security adviser Michael Flynn, and deputy campaign manager Rick Gates and others.
Paul Manafort, Gates's former business partner, who also served as Trump campaign chairman for a stretch in 2016, is fighting conspiracy, tax and money laundering charges. Manafort faces trials in Virginia and Washington D.C. this year.
Manafort has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys point out that he has not been charged with alleged crimes that relate to election interference by the Russians.
On Wednesday, Manafort's longtime friends launched a legal defense fund for him after declaring he was struggling to pay his attorneys.
The special counsel team also has obtained indictments against 13 Russians for engaging in an information warfare campaign to help Trump and damage his political opponent, Hillary Clinton.
Remember the mantra “4 years. 40 million dollars” from the Clinton years?
What is this? 17 months. 17 million dollars?
And to Hillary, Obama and Fusion GPS. This hoax is outrageous.
“actually a small operation by government standards”
Tell that to the accused.
Mueller belongs to me!
If my math is correct that is 46k a day for one year. Pffftttttttttttttttttttttt!
and indicted people they cannot get to.
17 mil for this fiasco, and yet Clinton walks fee, obamam Jarrett, Holder Lynch all laugh, and Sessions is doing what ever he is doing.
I wonder how many spies 17 million can buy?
How much is comey being offered for his book deal? Think Mueller will be offered $5 million for his book deal?
Seventeen million dollars enriching a bunch of lawyers participating in an eighteen month circle jerk. What a waste of money....
I think you are onto something. If Mexico has to pay for the wall then perhaps the dems should pay for this phony investigation triggered by Hillary's funded dossier. Not sure how it is accomplished but it's a great idea.
DEFUND kangaroo courts.
The worst thing of this is valjar and deepstate people getting this money...and they will never stop either.
Mullers costs... nearly $17 million dollars so far.
Show it in detail!
Because there was nothing there to begin with. Hard to spend money chasing down leads when none exist.
How much of this money went in his pocket?
Send the invoice to the DNC. We shouldn’t have to pay for its illegal witch hunt.
As though the law stopped any Leftist from doing exactly what they want. Sure. Sure. It's just a coincidence that all of Mueller's hires are Democrats. Bah! I'm so sick of these DC political games that destroy people's lives and reputations for sport.
By the way, Mueller and his gang are spending about $1,416,000 a month of taxpayers' money on this bull crap. Notice most of it is going to their "salaries," meaning this witch hunt is all about lining their pockets first and foremost. They will do anything to keep it going as long as possible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.