By Our Correspondent
National News – Robert Mueller, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the special counsel who led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election, has died at the age of 81.
His family confirmed that he passed away on Friday night, requesting privacy during their period of mourning. The exact cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Mueller was widely respected for decades of public service in American law enforcement and national security.
He served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 after being appointed by former US president George W. Bush.
His leadership began just days before the September 11 attacks, a moment that reshaped the agency’s priorities toward counterterrorism and homeland security.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in from political leaders and colleagues.
Former president Barack Obama described Mueller as one of the finest FBI directors in history, praising his commitment to the rule of law and democratic values.
James Comey, who succeeded Mueller, also honored him as a mentor and an example of integrity in public service.
Mueller’s career included military service during the Vietnam War, where he served as a Marine officer and received honors including the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart after being wounded in combat.
After returning from the war, he studied law at the University of Virginia before beginning a long career in the US justice system.
Later in his career, Mueller became one of the most prominent figures in modern US politics when he was appointed special counsel in 2017 to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election involving then-candidate Donald Trump.
The nearly two-year probe resulted in multiple indictments and a detailed report concluding that Russia interfered in the election but did not establish a criminal conspiracy between Trump’s campaign and Moscow.
Mueller is survived by his wife of nearly six decades, Ann Cabell Standish, their two daughters and three grandchildren.
