WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI director who later led the high-profile investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, has died at the age of 81, his family confirmed.
Mueller, who served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013, passed away Friday night. His family announced his death in a statement and requested privacy.
Appointed just one week before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Mueller quickly transformed the FBI’s mission, shifting its focus from traditional law enforcement to counterterrorism and prevention. His tenure spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations, reflecting broad bipartisan trust in his leadership.
Mueller later returned to public service in 2017, when he was appointed special counsel to oversee the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The probe examined whether members of Trump’s campaign coordinated with Moscow, becoming one of the most politically consequential investigations in modern U.S. history.
His final report, released in 2019, concluded that Russia interfered in the election but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian officials, while leaving unresolved questions about obstruction of justice.
Mueller, a decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, was widely regarded as a disciplined and apolitical figure throughout decades of public service. In recent years, he had been dealing with Parkinson’s disease, according to reports.
Reaction to his death quickly reflected the deep political divisions that defined much of his later career. President Donald Trump responded on social media with harsh criticism, underscoring the lingering tensions surrounding Mueller’s investigation.
Mueller’s death marks the passing of a central figure in both the post-9/11 transformation of U.S. law enforcement and one of the most consequential political investigations of the 21st century.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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