Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who served for over a decade, passed away on Friday. He was 81 years old. Two people familiar with the matter confirmed his death. Mueller later served as special counsel in the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
“With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away last night,” a family statement said. “His family asks that their privacy be respected.”
The FBI Agents Association expressed condolences for the passing of Mueller, acknowledging his leadership during a time of significant change. They recognized his pivotal role in bolstering the bureau’s capacity to address evolving national security threats while upholding its core criminal investigative mission.
A spokesperson for the WilmerHale law firm, where Mueller had been a partner, praised him as an exceptional leader, public servant, and person of the highest integrity.
“His service to our country, including as a decorated officer in the Marine Corps, as FBI Director, and at the Department of Justice, was exemplary and inspiring,” the spokesperson said. “We are deeply proud that he was our partner.”
The cause of death was not immediately known, but Mueller had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years.
Mueller, whose two-year probe concluded in 2019 that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election of Donald Trump, served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013. The Justice Department in 2017 appointed him special counsel to oversee the growing investigation after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.
The Mueller probe became an obsession for Trump, who repeatedly, and on numerous occasions, referred to it as a “witch hunt,” “a scam,” and a “hoax.”
Upon hearing of Mueller’s death on Saturday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, “Robert Mueller has passed away. I am glad he is no longer a threat to innocent people. President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
Mueller’s investigation led to 37 indictments and seven guilty pleas, but he found no evidence of coordination between Trump and his aides with Russia. The Mueller report, as it became known, neither concluded that Trump committed any crime nor cleared the president of obstruction of justice.
Trump’s statement was quickly met with pushback on Capitol Hill.
“I join many Americans mourning the loss of Robert Mueller, he led a career of public service always committed to rule of law,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. “I didn’t always agree with him, but I join many in mourning his passing.”
