United States
GAO General Accounting Office
Washington, D.C. 20548
Accounting and Information
Management Division
B-283209
August 26,1999
The Honorable Patrick Leahy
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Subject: Independent Counsel: Exnenditure and Other Jnformation for the Office of
Indenendent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr
Dear Senator Leahy:
This letter responds to your April 6,1999, request regarding expenditures by the of&e
of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr. Specifically, you asked that we obtain
answers to 46 questions grouped into 11 categories.
Enclosure 1 lists the 46 questions and provides the office of independent counsel’s
answers to 40 of the questions. According to officials in Mr. Starr’s office, they did
not answer the remaining six questions because the office did not have sufficient
information to respond or it would have had to expend significant resources to review
over 4 years of records to provide responses. The answers are as of May 26,1999, or
for the period from Mr. Starr’s appointment on August 5,1994, through May 26,1999,
unless otherwise noted. As agreed with your office, we did not audit the answers, nor
did we evaluate the reasons given for not answering questions.
-----
We provided a draft of this letter to officials in the office of independent counsel for
their review and comment. The officials provided certain corrections and
clartications to the information in the letter, which we incorporated. F’urther, in
written comments included as enclosure 2, a Deputy Independent Counsel noted that
the draft letter accurately represented the information provided by the office of
independent counsel. We are sending a copy of this letter to the Members of the
/6?47c5
GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
B-283209
Senate Committee on the Judiciary and other interested parties. Please contact me at
(202) 512-9489if you or your staff have any questions abotit this letter.
David L. Clark
Director, Audit Oversight and Liaison
Enclosures
: L
GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Office of Indenendent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr
Kesnonses to Exuenditure and Other Questions
(As of Mav 26.1999. or for the Period August 5.1994,
Through Mav 26.1999. Unless Otherwise Noted)
(Unaudited)
Personnel
1. How many attorneys are employed by the Office of Independent Counsel
Kenneth W. Starr (OIC)?
The OIC employs 15 attorneys, including the independent counsel and excluding
detailees from the Department of Justice.
2. How many attorneys have been detailed to the OIC?
Through May 4,1999, the Department of Justice had detailed 25 attorneys to the OIC over
the course of the investigation.
3. What is the salary for each attorney (without naming the attorney)?
See the answer to question 9.
4. How many paralegals are employed by the OIC? _
The OIC employs 10 paralegals.
5: How many paralegals have been detailed to the OIC?
Through May 4,1999, the Department of Justice had detailed one paralegal to the OIC
over the course of the investigation.
6. What is the salary for each paralegal (without naming the paralegal)?
See the answer to question 9.
7. How many secretaries or other assistants are employed by the OIC?
The OIC employs 20 secretaries and other assistants or administrative staff.
8. How many secretaries or other assistants have been detailed to the OIC?
The Department of Justice detailed two administrative assistants to Mr. Starr’s office
from August 1994 through approximately December 1994.
9. What is the salary for each secretary or assistant (without naming the secretary
or assistant)?
3 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Table 1.1: Emdovee Job Titles and Salaries Through Mav 25,1999
Administrative Clerk
GAO/NMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Clerk $23,876 -
Clerk $23,145
Legal Secretary $22,740
Clerk $19,849
Source: Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr.
10. How many employees of the OIC have received or are eligible for raises or
bonuses?
Since its inception in August 1994, the OIC has had 132 employees and detailees
(excluding the independent counsel). Of this number, 76 have received raises, including
the federal government’s annual pay and cost-of-living increases. The OIC has given 82
special achievement and/or performance cash awards to 62 staff and detailees. The
independent counsel has not received any cash awards.
11. What is the amount of each raise or bonus that has been granted?
In general, staff receive the annual pay raises that all federal employees receive. Awards
granted since the OIC’s inception range from $1,000 to $8,000. They have averaged about
$3,100 overal&about $3,800 per award for attorneys and about $1,800 per award for
paralegals and staff
Personnel Salaries and Bonuses
12. Howmany employees in the OIC are eligible for overtime pay?
The OK’s policy is that no one above the GS13 level can receive overtime pay. No
attorneys are paid overtime. On May 26,1999,28 OIC staff quabiied for overtime, all of
whom were legal or administrative support staff.
13. What is the amount of overtime pay that has been paid to OIC employees?
Total overtime paid since inception in 1994 is $321,839.
14. How many consultants or other advisers (such as press or public relations or
ethics consultants) are or have been employed by the OIC?
The OIC has hired 57 consultants or other advisers since its inception.
15. Please identify each of them.
See the answer to question 16.
16. What is the amount that has been paid to each of the consultants or other
advisers employed by the OIC?
5 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Table 1.2: ConsultantiAdvisor Pavments Throw& Mav 13.1999
$804 I
GAWAIMD-99-25 1R Independent CounseI
Enclosure 1
Rutledge, William E. $3,130 -
Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge $49,706
Wolohojian, G. $11,128
Pulmonary Associates $756 j
Security:
Kroll Associates $25,346
Spellings & Associates $2,200
Vucci, James $40,225 ,
Other:
Cameron Communications (preparation $7,500
for congressional testimony)
Ford Motor Company (car leasing) $32,284
Landess, Michael (media and library $20,920
Lesnevich, Gus R. (handwriting analysis) $6,702.
Morris, James (technical writing and $6,375
editing)
The names of criminal investigators are not provided for security reasons.
‘The consultant/advisor provided the OIC with legal representation on a sealed matter before
the U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, and is, therefore, not identified.
Source: Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr.
Federal Agencv Detailees
17. How many federal agents are detailed to the OIC?
As of May 4,1999, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had detailed 78 agents to the
OIC. The OIC did not provide information on agents detailed by other organizations.
18. From which agencies are these agents or employees detailed?
The OIC obtains agents from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S.
Marshal Service.
7 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
19. How many agents or other persons are detailed from the FBI?
See the answer to question 17.
20. How many agents or other persons are detailed from the IRS?
No IRS personnel are currently assigned to the OIC on a full-tim& basis.
21. How much of the cost of each detailed federal employee is charged to the OIC
and how much to a federal agency?
In general, the respective federal agency pays detailee salary and benefit amounts and
the OIC pays travel and other costs, except that the OIC pays the salary and benefit costs
for attorneys detailed from the Department of Justice. The amounts paid by agencies
that provide detailees are identified in the notes to the statements of expenditures
contained in our reports on independent counsel expenditures. Expenditures paid by the
OIC are included in the appropriate line item in the statements of expenditures.
22. Please identify the unit from which each detailed agent was diverted to work on
the OIC?
The OIC did not answer this question.
Travel Costs: Air TransDortation
23. What is the total number of airplane trips made by OIC staff at government
expense and the total cost of these trips?
The OIC did not answer t&is question.
24. How much money has been spent on airline tickets for (1) Kenneth Starr and (2)
other OIC staff?
The OIC did not answer this question.
25. How many first-class tickets have been purchased and at what cost?
In general, OIC travelers have not used firs&class. The OIC estimated that of the over
5,000 tickets purchased possibly three to four instances of first-class travel occurred and
that these may have been for witnesses.
26. How many business class tickets have been purchased and at what cost?
The OIC did not answer this question.
8 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Travel Costs: Surface Transnortation
27. What is the total number of automobiles used by OIC staff at government
expense?
The OIC did not answer this question.
28. Please identify the make, model, and year of each automobile and the cost and
length of each vehicle lease.
The OIC has used late model, mid-sized sedans and minivans-Ford Taurus, Ford
Windstar, Dodge Acclaim, and Oldsmobile Achieva. All vehicles used were leased
through General Services Administration and Department of Justice lease procedures
and were at one-third to one-half the typical/average retail cost for comparable rental
vehicles.
29. What is the total number of official drivers employed by the OIC and the salary
for each driver?
The OIC has not hired drivers. It relies on special messengers, paralegals, and other staff
to deliver packages and messages. Because of death threats, Mr. Starr has had a car and
a protective detail Tom the U.S. Marshal Service.
Witness Transnortation
30. What is the total number of times Starr’s OIC has paid for witness travel at
government expense?
The OIC has made 199 payments for witness travel. The OIC counted each payment to
American Express, which books OIC travel, as one item in arriving at the 199 figure,
although each biIl may have included travel charges for more than one trip or witness.
31. What is the total cost of such travel to the government?
See the answer to question 33.
32. How many witnesses have traveled at government expense in connection with
the OIC?
In total, the OIC has paid travel claims for 187 witnesses. Not all witnesses have filed
travel-related claims.
33. What is the total cost to the government of witness travel and lodging in
connection with the OIC?
The OIC has paid $91,239 for witness travel (airfare and lodging).
GAO/AIMD-99?25lR Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
Office Snace
34. What Are the locations of the offices used by the OIC?
The OIC has offices in Washington,D.C.;Alexandria,Virginia; and Little Rock, Arkansas.
35. What is the cost of rent for each office used by the OIC?
Current annual charges for the space are $598,099for Washington, DC.; $129,360 for
Alexandria, Virginia; and $121,105 for Little Rock, Arkansas.
36. How much square footage has the OIC rented in each location?
The OIC has rented 16,325 square feet of office space and 160 square feet of storage
space in Washington, D.C.; 5,880 square feet of office space in Alexandria; and 7,744
square feet of office space and 14 parking spaces in Little Rock.
37. What is the cost of the telephone system used for each office?
The total cost for the purchase of telephone systems for all offices was about $125,000 as
of March 31,1999.
38. What is the cost of court reporting services incurred by the OIC?
The total cost for court reporting and transcripts is $378,726.
Commuter Services
39. What is the total cost of computers and computer systems incurred by the OIC?
The total cost for computers and computer systems is $273,246. This amount is for
equipment and system purchases only.
40. Does the OIC lease computers and computer systems?
The OIC does not lease computer equipment or systems.
41. If so, what systems are leased and at what cost per month?
See the answer to question 40.
42. Does the OIC employ a systems administrator?
The OIC does not employ a systems administrator. It contracts for computer services
and maintenance.
43. If so, what is the cost of the systems administrator?
10 GAO/AIMD-99-25112 Independent Counsel
Enclosure 1
As of March 15,1999, the contract cost was about $592,doO.
Witnesses’ Attornev Costs
44. What is the amount of witnesses’ attorney’s fees in connection with the OIC that
the government has reimbursed or anticipates reimbursing?
The Department of Justice reimburses attorneys’ fees to some federal employees who are
caRed as witnesses to testify before an independent counsel. Justice reports that it has
paid $11,270 in such expenses and that it has 24 pending requests for payment as of May
4,1999.
Lewinskv Matter
45. What is the best estimate of the total cost to the government of the OIC
investigation of the Lewinsky matter, including OIC staff salary, travel, and
detailee salaries?
The OK’s financial accounting system does not categorize costs by case or project. For
the period January 15 through August 31,1998, the OIC estimated the time spent on the
Lewinsky investigation by ah staff members and allocated certain other general costs
based on those estimates. The estimated costs are as follows.
Personnel compensation and benefits $1,861,456
Travel costs 949,895
Rent, communications and utilities 356,494
Contractual services 884,110
Supplies and services 82,653
Capital equipment 186,021
Administrative services 73.294
Total $4.393.923
These costs do not include payr0I.I costs of FRI personnel assigned to the OIC or certain
administrative costs incurred by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and
periodicaUy charged to the OIC. The OIC has not developed more current cost
information.
Foster Suicide Matter
46. What is the best estimate of the total cost to the government of the OIC
investigation of the Vince Foster suicide, including OIC staff salary, travel, and
detaiIee salaries?
The OIC did not answer this question.
11 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 2
Comments From the Office of the Indeuendent Counsel
Off& of the Independent Counsel
August 13,1999
JeflicyC.gtCilhff
ACthlgAssistantCOUlpllQIl~GalUid
Accountingand~ormationManaganentDivisiw
GenedAccounting~ce
Washington, D.C. 20548
Dearsii
Thaak you fw the oppommity to comment on the dlaft of your report to senator L&y.
We have a few bkfconiments on the draft repott, in addition to the corrdions which we made
today during ameeting with Thomas Eroderick and Hedge Hey.
ThedataprrsenadinyourrcportEaithfuy~reprodrtcwthedatawe~~toGAO
upon its mqoest. We offer two clarifications: (1) Oar response to question 1 rc5ccis cumzt
cmploymcnt and dots not include attorneys detailed from the Department of hstice; (2) Our
Rsponsesto~o~2~5nflectdctailas~mthe~~tovcrthccouncoftht
investigation, through May 4,1999. We would also make the bllowing additional points ta
supplement the dam presented:
Fii the Oflice of h&pen& Counsel has made no Sort to formally aodit tbc data
pmidedtotheGenemlAtxmmtbgOffi~. Tl’ledatawebaveprovidedforyourustis~~
~mo~intemalaccountingsystcmandwcmakeeveryrdmanpttoinsrac~acnwcy.
However, the khmation is, nonetheless, unaudited data.
second, we note that the General Accounting office’s scmi-ammal audits of our Of&
he been uniformly unrcmahbk. Asthe General AccoMting Ofike basrouhcly conch&d,
“for the controls we [the General Accounting Office] tested, we found no material we&n- in
the iotcrnai control siructure and [the Office of Independent Counsel’s] opcration~” The General
Accounting Office has also noted that “[o]ur audit tests for complkmce with selectedprotim
12 GAOIAIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
Enclosure 2
Jeflky C. Steinhoff
August 13,1999
page2
pepomo Honorable Patrick Leaily]
of laws and mgalaticm disclosedDOinstances of noncompIiance that would be reportable uader
generaUyacqted governmentauditiug standa&” Though these comhsions do not, invclve
~particular~~desaibedinthedraftrrporfwcarcconfidenttbattheorpaadiarrrs
catalogedin the report were all consistent with applicable Jaws and reguhtior~~
Third, 28 U.S.C. 5 595(Z)(l)(C) nquires an indkpendent Wuuscl to romply with
establislledDeparbnentalJKdiciesregardingexpuldiibn+s. J3eymdfmr~wtothis
sxquimncnL we think it is sigaiticant to note that many of the expenditma on which you rrpoa
were, in fkct, expend under the auspices of the Department of Justice. For example, the
expulswreportedfortelephone !3erviceinvolveduseofthe Depammt of hstic~stelephonc
system. Wepayforwurtreportingservicesandvehicielals*rasridcrstoan~
D”p”““‘pf Justice ccntract Thus, in many ir&mes, our expenditum welt at rates ideatical
to,andmmsteatwith,thoseincumdbytheDepartmentofJustice.
Fourth,wtwishtDprovideamorecompletecxplanationofourinabilitytorrspondb
certain questions. We did not amverquestion~27,and46bccausewedonotbavesufficient
ir&mation to aiable us to amwer the question. We did not answa questions 23,24, and 26
becausethe Office of lndepmdeat Could does not ma&in its travel records in a format that
would enable us to mdiIy answerthe questions The only possiile way to answer these
questionsis tc retrievt all trawl vouchers fiom stored xeccudsand conduct a time consuming and
labor intensive hand-countto mate the data requested
Thanlcyoufortheopporhlnitytocommultonthedraftreport
(911945)
13 GAO/AIMD-99-251R Independent Counsel
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Address Correction Requested
Independent Counsel: Expenditure and Other Information for the Office of Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr
Published by the Government Accountability Office on 1999-08-26.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)