Mueller's Russia investigation cost $3.2M in first five months

Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation cost $3.2 million in the first five months, according to Justice Department records released Tuesday.

The Special Counsel's Office Statement of Expenditures report covers expenses between May 17, when Mueller was appointed to the post after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, and the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation, over potential conflicts of interest.

Of the $3,213,695 spent, the biggest expense was $1,709,597 in salaries and benefits for prosecutors and investigators.

Other spending was listed at $733,969 for equipment, $223,643 in travel, $362,550 for rent communications and utilities, $157,339 for contractual services and $26,442 for supplies and materials.

The travel costs included $220,830 for relocation of Justice Department employees temporarily assigned to the investigation. A total of $2,813 was spent on actual travel.

Justice Department agencies also spent $3.5 million to support the investigation.

According to the filing, the "review identified no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the design or operation of SCO controls."