Robert S. Mueller III, the FBI director who transformed the nation’s premier law enforcement agency into a terrorism-fighting force after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and who later became special counsel in charge of investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has died. He was 81.
“With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away” on Friday night, his family said in a statement Saturday. “His family asks that their privacy be respected.”
At the FBI, Mueller set about almost immediately overhauling the bureau’s mission to meet the law enforcement needs of the 21st century, beginning his 12-year tenure just one week before the Sept. 11 attacks and serving across presidents of both political parties. He was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush.
He rattled a lot of cages, but did nothing with what he uncovered. He was disappointing as special counsel.
It would help if you read the actual report. Mueller got quite a bit of evidence, but then was hit by obstruction of justice by Trump and his admin at DOJ. Then Trump’s AG, Barr, misrepresented the content of Mueller’s actual report. It’s only a few hundred pages, all of which are worth the read. Pay attention to the footnotes, there’s good stuff in there.
Trump’s campaign DID collude with Russia to interfere with the 2016 election. They ALSO broke the law by obstructing justice after Trump was inaugurated.
He had enough evidence to state the conclusion clearly.
It’s obvious he wanted Congress to do that part, but he still needed to say it.
Even so, he did fight the good fight, and I’m not going to hate a man for a slight miscalculation of strategy that only became obvious with hindsight.
Most people read biased summaries based on Bill Barr’s misleading statements. A few people read the report summaries for Part I and Part II, which downplay the severity of Trump’s misconduct. But the actual text, and footnotes, really show just how corrupt Trump was in 2015-16 and how much he relied on foreign interference from Russian intelligence to win that thing. And then hide it with a coverup run by DOJ (which was then Jeff Sessions as AG).
I was under the impression that he did a lot for what the system allowed him to do.
True. He did his job. What else was he expected to do
There are plenty of things he’s done in his life worthy of criticism but this isn’t one. What did you expect him to do? He was sent to investigate and he did just that it’s not like he had any authority over anyone.
I expected him to clearly state his conclusions, out loud, in front of Congress and the media, where everyone could hear him. Not play coy and let the Republicans “interpret” (i.e. deny and bury) it.
He was appointed special counsel at age 70.
No one expected him to do anything.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mueller helped transform the FBI from an agency focused on national security and law enforcement into one that gathered intelligence and countering terrorism globally.
Appointed by Bush. Made the world a more fascist place. Won’t be missed.
Wow that is sad. I hope he went peacefully. We could all argue that there was more he could have done or that he could have moved faster, etc….but at the end of the day he fought the good fight and should be remembered as someone who stood up to fascism. I hope he went peacefully.
Dude is a legend. A reminder of how the FBI was and should be. If only the core US systems had more like him, maybe this shit show wouldn’t have gone so far
Amen, I say this knowing a few agents who quit due to Trump.
In a class act, DJT called Mueller a great patriot who should be revered by America.
What a worthless life.
I’m sure you’ll outdo him…
