Robert Mueller (file photo)
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller led high-stakes investigation into alleged ties Donald TrumpHe fought in Russia in 2016 and passed away at the age of 81.“It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Bob passed away last night,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, CNN reported. Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021.Mueller, a widely respected figure across party lines for much of his career, served as FBI director for 12 years after being appointed by George W. Bush in 2001 before Barack Obama asked for his extension. He became the longest-serving FBI director since Edgar Hoover.He was appointed special counsel in 2017 to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and possible ties to the Trump campaign. The 2019 report said there were multiple contacts between Trump aides and Russian officials, saying the campaign “expected to benefit from information released by Russian efforts.”However, Mueller did not establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and Russia. He also declined to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, citing Justice Department guidelines prohibiting prosecution of a sitting president. “If we were convinced that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would say so,” Mueller said at the time.The investigation resulted in the indictment of 37 individuals and entities, and the conviction or guilty plea of several Trump associates, including Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and Michael Cohen. Still, the investigation has become deeply polarizing, with Trump repeatedly calling it a “witch hunt.”In response to Mueller’s death, Trump wrote on the “Truth Society”: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can’t hurt innocent people anymore!”In addition to the Russia investigation, Mueller has a long career in public service. He was a decorated Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War who rose through the ranks of the Justice Department, overseeing major prosecutions including those of Manuel Noriega and John Gotti. He also played a key role in the investigation into the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.As FBI director, Mueller led the bureau through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, overseeing a major shift in counterterrorism and expanding surveillance powers under the Patriot Act.In later years, he warned that foreign election interference could become an ongoing threat. “I hope this is not the new normal,” he told Congress in 2019. “But I fear it is.”
