Robert Mueller, the former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Special Counsel in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, has passed away at the age of 81. A spokesperson for Mueller confirmed his death in a statement, but the cause and location have not yet been disclosed.
Mueller, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021, retired from the practice of law at the end of that year. He spent his later years teaching law at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he continued to educate students during the 2021 and 2022 fall semesters before fully retiring from teaching in 2022.
Born on August 7, 1944, Mueller served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, earning both a Bronze Star with Valor device and a Purple Heart. He had a distinguished legal career, which included major roles at the Department of Justice, overseeing high-profile cases like those involving Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and mafia figure John Gotti.
Mueller’s tenure as FBI Director spanned from 2001 to 2013, during which he led significant efforts to enhance the agency’s focus on counterterrorism and intelligence gathering. He was appointed Special Counsel in 2017 to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Though the investigation resulted in indictments of some individuals, it concluded that no evidence of collusion with the Trump campaign was found.