Robert Mueller. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who has been probing Russia's meddling in the 2016 election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, has spent more than $3.2 million in four-and-a-half months, according to a report released Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice spent $3.5 million to support the investigation.
Why it matters: Some GOP members have criticized the spending, and President Trump lashed out on twitter in May, saying "The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end?" But partisan outcries about the use of taxpayer funds for government investigations are nothing new.
The breakdown:
- $1.7 million for salary and benefits. About $1.2 million went to DOJ employees who have worked on the probe.
- $733,969 for office equipment.
- $2,800 for travel.
- $157,339 for a variety of contractual services, including $111,245 for information technology, $17,217 for building services and $24,456 for transcription work.