Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has died at the age of 81.
Mueller was highly respected by the bureau he headed for 12 years. He was first appointed FBI Director by President George W. Bush, and when President Barack Obama took office, he extended his term by 2 years.
The US Congress also held him in high esteem, saying in 2011 that he was the best Director in the bureau’s 100 years of existence.
Mueller’s Education and Training
Robert Mueller graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1966, and the year after graduated from New York University (NYU) with a Master’s. He then became a Marine.
He served in the Vietnam War for three years, where he led a rifle platoon as an officer. He left the service after an injury, as a captain with several decorations.
Mueller was a trained lawyer. After leaving the Marines, Mueller joined law school at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1973. Later, he joined the US Department of Justice.
He left an indelible mark on the FBI.
Robert Mueller made a historical mark at the FBI, not only by overhauling the way the bureau operated, but by changing the way the bureau related with other institutions, including the CIA.
A week after President Bush appointed him director, the US experienced the horrific 9/11 incident. This made his position challenging in an unprecedented way.
Within the bureau, Mueller was known to be strict and effective, while also commanding a great deal of respect. It was during his tenure that unethical interrogation methods that the CIA used on terror suspects were brought to light.
Mueller led the Inquiry into possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Elections.
Robert Mueller was called from retirement in 2017 to lead an investigation as Special Counsel, which would determine if Russia interfered with the 2016 Presidential elections, and if so, to what extent. The whole country, Republicans and Democrats alike, was unanimous in its belief that Mueller was the best person for the job.
However, when the results were released, indicating that Russia’s interference was identifiable, US President Donald Trump was furious because the interference was in his favor. Even then, Mueller did not make any recommendations against Trump. Contrary to what many people anticipated, he did not recommend that Trump be indicted.
That notwithstanding, Trump despised him and remained vindictive against him thereafter. After the announcement of Robert Mueller’s death yesterday, Saturday, 21st, 2026, Donald Trump wrote a pathetic message of celebration on social media. He said he was “glad he’s dead…”.
Nevertheless, the country continues to mourn Mueller’s death with messages of admiration, terming his demise the “end of an era”.