(ConservativeSense.com) – Over the last few months, security costs have dramatically risen for special counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor in charge of both federal criminal lawsuits against former President Donald Trump. Recently released spending reports show that almost a third of Smith’s investigation expenses went toward security-related costs.
According to the latest spending report released on Friday, Jan. 5, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dished out over $14.6 million toward Smith’s investigation work, and around $4.4 million of those funds went toward paying the US Marshals Service. A DOJ spokesperson told reporters the marshals were needed to provide security for the special counsel and his team.
It’s required for a special counsel to regularly publish data reports on their expenses, which include two categories: funds spent directly from the special counsel’s official budget, and funds spent by other DOJ agencies to help the special counsel without reimbursement from its office. During the latest reporting period, Smith’s office dropped over $7 million of its own funds, bringing the total amount spent to over $12 million.
The newest data report shows a substantial increase in security costs from the first few months of Smith’s tenure. Between the middle of November and the end of March 2023, almost $2 million was allocated toward the marshals for protection services.
Smith claims in court documents that continuous rhetorical attacks from Trump, who often calls the special counsel “deranged,” have inspired threats from the public against him and his team. He is overseeing two federal cases against the former president: one in Florida on charges of mishandling classified materials after leaving the White House, and one in Washington D.C. on charges of attempting to interfere with the process of certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Others related to the cases, as well as those prosecuting Jan. 6 rioters, have also claimed to have received threats. The D.C. attorney overseeing Jan. 6 prosecutions said he’s faced “pervasive” violent threats from all over the country. Tanya Chutkan, the judge overseeing Trump’s prosecution in D.C., is also receiving increased security protection, especially after a recent swatting attempt.
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