Robert Mueller, Former Special Counsel Who Led Trump-russia Probe, Dies At 81

Robert Mueller III, nan second-longest serving FBI head successful nan agency's history, who later served arsenic nan typical counsel who oversaw nan investigation into Russian interference successful nan 2016 election, has died. He was 81.

In a statement, a spokesperson for nan rule patient wherever Mueller worked, WilmerHale, told NBC News, "WilmerHale mourns nan passing of our friend and erstwhile partner, Bob Mueller. Bob was an bonzer leader and nationalist servant and a personification of nan top integrity."

They added, "His work to our country, including arsenic a dressed up serviceman successful nan Marine Corps, arsenic FBI Director, and astatine nan Department of Justice, was exemplary and inspiring. We are profoundly proud that he was our partner. Our thoughts are pinch Bob’s family and loved ones during this time.”

Mueller served arsenic FBI head nether erstwhile Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

He was first nominated to nan station by Bush successful 2001 and went connected to beryllium nan second-longest serving FBI head successful history.

Mueller was primitively confirmed by a Senate ballot of 98-0 and began his occupation conscionable days earlier nan Sept. 11, 2001 violent attacks.

In a 2014 speech, Mueller recalled Bush's main mobility to him successful nan days aft nan attack: "What is nan FBI doing to forestall nan adjacent violent attack?"

Mueller recalled not having an reply astatine nan time, but shifting nan ngo of nan FBI successful nan pursuing years to get one.

"No longer could our metric beryllium nan number of arrests, number of indictments, number of convictions," he added. "It was answering that 1 question."

Mueller’s tenure arsenic FBI head continued nether nan Obama administration, pinch nan erstwhile president moreover asking Mueller to enactment connected beyond nan accepted FBI head word of 10 years. He stepped down successful 2013.

In 2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed him arsenic typical counsel to look into Russia’s efforts to power nan result of nan 2016 statesmanlike predetermination and immoderate links to nan Trump campaign.

Mueller became a predominant target of President Donald Trump after he released a study detailing his findings connected nan investigation.

The study recovered that Russia interfered pinch nan 2016 predetermination successful a sweeping and systemic fashion, including efforts to boost Trump's run and harm that of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. It did not found a criminal conspiracy betwixt nan Trump run and Russia.

Following news of Mueller's death, Trump wrote successful station connected Truth Social: “Robert Mueller conscionable died. Good, I’m gladsome he’s dead. He tin nary longer wounded guiltless people!"

The study besides elaborate Trump’s frustrations erstwhile he learned that a typical counsel had been appointed to analyse his run and imaginable ties to Russia.

He called it “the worst point that ever happened to me,” according to nan report.

In 2019, Trump besides called Mueller a "true never-Trumper," aft nan study came out.

Trump's attacks connected Mueller continued successful 2025, astatine nan commencement of his 2nd word erstwhile he signed an executive bid severing ties betwixt nan rule patient Mueller worked for, WilmerHale, and nan national government.

At nan time, Trump said WilmerHale had “rewarded” Mueller, accusing him of utilizing his “prosecutorial powerfulness to upend nan antiauthoritarian process and distort justice.”

Later, nan Justice Department dropped efforts to target WilmerHale and different rule firms aft aggregate judges ruled nan move unconstitutional.

When he worked arsenic typical counsel during Trump’s first administration, Mueller was regarded good by lawmakers connected some sides of nan aisle owed to his extended ineligible career.

Mueller was besides a subject seasoned who served successful nan Marine Corps arsenic an serviceman for 3 years aft completing a bachelors grade from Princeton University and a masters grade from New York University.

He was awarded nan Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his subject service.

Mueller was calved successful New York City and raised successful Philadelphia. He pursued his J.D astatine nan University of Virginia and graduated successful 1973.

He went connected to activity astatine nan San Francisco location of nan Office of nan U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California, and later astatine nan Office of nan U.S. Attorney successful nan District of Massachusetts. Mueller first took a station astatine nan Justice Department successful 1989 and served arsenic nan adjunct to nan then-U.S. Attorney General, Richard L. Thornburgh.