The four-year Whitewater investigation had cost taxpayers $35 million by the end of September, an audit of the independent counsel's expenses shows.
The General Accounting Office audit shows spending by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr on President Clinton's Whitewater dealings was the most expensive among six independent counsel probes that cost nearly $8 million in the six months ended Sept. 30.Starr has spent more than $29 million, and his predecessor, White-water special prosecutor Robert Fiske, about $6 million. Starr appears on track to surpass the biggest-spending independent counsel of all, Lawrence Walsh, who ran up a $40 million bill investigating the Iran-Contra arms and money case during the Reagan administration.
Starr racked up $3.4 million for salaries, travel, rent and other expenses from March through September. FBI agents working with Starr cost another $485,927, and the Internal Revenue Service spent $67,063 helping him, the GAO found.
In January, Starr's probe was expanded to include the Monica Lewinsky matter, pushing the investigation into high gear. Dozens of witnesses have been subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury, including one from Japan.
The next six-month report on independent counsel expenses will be issued in September.