Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI director who transformed the agency after the September 11 attacks and later led the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, died Friday. He was 81. His family confirmed the death in a statement released Saturday, requesting that their privacy be respected.
Nominated by President George W. Bush, Mueller took command of the FBI just one week before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Over his 12-year tenure, he reshaped the domestic law enforcement agency into a global anti-terrorism organization. He became the second-longest-serving director in the bureau’s history behind J. Edgar Hoover, staying past the statutory 10-year limit after Congress granted him a special two-year extension at the request of President Barack Obama. During this period, the bureau faced intense scrutiny, including revelations that the FBI had circumvented the law to obtain thousands of phone call records for terrorism investigations.
In 2017, then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian election meddling and potential coordination with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. The resulting 2019 report concluded that Russia interfered in the election in a sweeping and systematic fashion to benefit Trump. While Mueller opted not to formally accuse the sitting president of a crime regarding obstruction of justice, he explicitly stated, “If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state.”
Following the family’s announcement on Saturday, Donald Trump reacted on his Truth Social platform, stating, “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”
From Fox… Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has died at the age of 81, and President Donald Trump gave a sharp reaction on Truth Social.
"Robert Mueller just died," Trump posted on Truth Social.
"Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!" Trump added.— Yoy (@Yoycation) March 21, 2026
Before his time leading the FBI, Mueller served as a Marine rifle platoon commander during the Vietnam War. He earned a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart after being shot in the thigh during a firefight. He subsequently built a legal career spanning 50 years, serving as a U.S. attorney, a homicide prosecutor, and acting deputy attorney general.
According to a 2025 report from The New York Times, Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021. The family’s statement on Saturday did not specify a cause of death.