Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, who also led the special counsel investigation into alleged Russian interference, has died at the age of 81, as reported by various outlets.
Mueller’s family announced on Friday evening that he had “passed away,” according to the Associated Press.
Beginning his term as FBI director in September 2001, Mueller served under “presidents from both political parties.” He quickly initiated a comprehensive review of the FBI’s objectives to align with the demands of modern law enforcement.
Upon starting his 12-year term just a week before the September 11 attacks, Mr. Mueller focused on redefining the bureau’s operations to address contemporary law enforcement needs, being nominated by Republican President George W. Bush.
The tragedy shifted the agency’s focus from tackling domestic crime to terrorism prevention, which meant that Mueller and other officials were often held to nearly unattainable standards—stopping 99 out of 100 terrorist plots wasn’t considered sufficient.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Mr. Mueller had died on Friday. The exact cause of death is currently unknown.
In a statement made to the New York Times in 2025, Mueller’s family revealed he had been “diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021.”
“Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021,” his family mentioned in a statement. “He stepped away from practicing law at the close of that year and taught at his law school alma mater in both the fall of 2021 and 2022, retiring at the end of 2022.”
Mueller is perhaps most recognized for his role as special counsel during the investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump shared his reaction to Mueller’s passing, stating, “I’m glad he’s dead.” He further elaborated, “Robert Mueller just passed away. I’m glad he’s dead. He can’t hurt innocent people anymore!”
