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Robert Swan Mueller III was an American lawyer who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013.
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politics · American civil servant and attorney (1944–2026) · military officer · lawyer · jurist · politician · official · soldier · also Robert Mueller, Bob Mueller, Robert S. Mueller III, Robert S. Mueller, Bob Mueller III, Bob Swan Mueller III
Born 7 August 1944 · Died 20 March 2026 · Q715156
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FBI Director Robert Mueller Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary · Public domain
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“One of the reasons I went into the Marine Corps was because we lost a very good friend, a Marine in Vietnam, who was a year ahead of me at Princeton. There were a number of us who felt we should follow his example and at least go into the service. And it flows from there.”
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WKRN News 2: This Week with Bob Mueller: Tennessee ends fiscal year with budget surplus
Yahoo: This Week with Bob Mueller: Tennessee executes Anthony Darrell Hines
Public attention spiked: 10,781 Wikipedia readers in one day, 12.3× the usual 880, with 0 article edits.
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Fox News: GREGG JARRETT: Robert Mueller's tragic fall from grace and the damage he left in his wake
Snopes.com rated the claim “A screenshot authentically shows a March 21, 2026, Truth Social post by U.S. President Donald Trump saying he was "glad" former FBI director and special counsel Robert Mueller had died.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
The Guardian: Robert Mueller obituary
The Guardian: ‘Vile’ Trump condemned for gloating over Robert Mueller death
The Guardian: Robert Mueller, special counsel who investigated Trump-Russia ties, dies at 81
Yahoo: Robert Mueller, former FBI director who investigated Trump, dead at 81
WGRZ: Robert Mueller, former special counsel with the DOJ and FBI director, has died
IJR: Robert Mueller, Former FBI Director, Dies at 81
Died 2026-03-20.
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In Charlottesville, Virginia, at the age of 81
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The Guardian: Trump targets another law firm over its ties to Robert Mueller
The Guardian: US still unprepared for Russian election interference, Robert Mueller says
The Guardian: Trump attacks Robert Mueller's 'hit squad' in row over 'wiped' phones
Mueller wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post stating that Roger Stone "remains a convicted felon, and rightly so" after the U
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“remains a convicted felon, and rightly so”
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PolitiFact rated the claim “"(Mueller) and James Comey have been good friends or were good friends for many years."” Not in social sense.
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Mueller appeared before both congressional committees and was questioned by members of Congress
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With two hours allotted for questioning, but the hearing was postponed to July 24 and expanded to include a third hour
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AP News rated the claim “The FBI, under Robert Mueller, let billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein off with a weak plea deal after dozens of young girls accused him of sexual assault.” False.
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Awarded Time 100 (2019).
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Mueller announced that he was retiring as special counsel and that the office would be shut down, and he spoke publicly about the report for the first time
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The Washington Post rated the claim ““No, I don’t [know what special counsel Robert Mueller's team was complaining about in news reports]. I think — I think — I suspect that they probably wanted more put out, but in my view, I was not interested in putting out summaries or trying to summarize, because I think any summary, regardless…” Three Pinocchios.
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “There was a “very plausible alternative explanation” to White House counsel Don McGahn’s claim that the president asked him to have Robert Mueller removed as special counsel.” Mueller Believed McGahn.
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “"[W]e have conflicts. I had a nasty business transaction with Robert Mueller a number of years ago. I said, why isn’t that mentioned? He wanted the job as FBI Director. ... and I didn’t give it to him. Why isn't that mentioned."” Mueller Report Refutes That.
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The Department of Justice released Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election, the special counsel's final report and its conclusions
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Mueller concluded his investigation and submitted the special counsel's final report to Attorney General William Barr
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PolitiFact rated the claim “Robert Mueller said, “We must move as quickly as possible to a one-world government; a one-world religion; under a one world leader.”” Pants on Fire.
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PolitiFact rated the claim “A woman died mysteriously after reporting on Robert Mueller destroying text messages.” Pants on Fire.
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After which the Office of the Special Counsel was closed and Mueller resigned
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The Washington Post reported on a Senate‑commissioned study concluding that Russian disinformation teams had targeted Mueller
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FactCheck.org rated the claim “Special counsel Robert Mueller has "big time conflicts of interest."” Legal Experts Disagree.
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PolitiFact rated the claim “Says Hillary Clinton sold 20 percent of America’s uranium to Russia and then "the Russian government gave $145 million to the Clinton Foundation." Former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller "delivered it."” Mostly False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Warner hosted a fundraising event for approximately 100 guests and was quoted as saying, "If you get me one more glass of wine, I'll tell you stuff only Bob Mueller and I know
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Awarded Time 100 (2018).
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Trump criticized Mueller, tweeting that "the World's most expensive Witch Hunt has found nothing on Russia & me so now they are looking at the rest of the World
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The Washington Post rated the claim “"The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign."” False.
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Mueller charged attorney Alex van der Zwaan with making false statements in the Russia probe
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Mueller indicted 13 Russian individuals and 3 Russian companies for attempting to deceive Americans into consuming Russian propaganda that targeted Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and later President-elect Donald Tru
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PolitiFact rated the claim “"Mueller will be forced to resign over Pelosi affair."” Pants on Fire.
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Mueller reached a plea agreement with former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to giving false testimony to the FBI about his contacts with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak
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Mueller filed charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and campaign co-chairman Rick Gates
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Former CIA director John Brennan reaffirmed his support for Mueller and called on members of Congress to resist if Trump attempted to fire him
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The Washington Post reported that Mueller's office was also investigating Trump personally for possible obstruction of justice in connection with the Russia probe
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Department of Justice ethics officials announced that Mueller had been declared ethically able to serve as special counsel
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Mueller met with President Donald Trump as a courtesy to provide perspectives on the FBI and input on considerations for hiring a new FBI director
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Was appointed as special master for the disbursement of $850 million and $125 million for automakers and consumers, respectively, affected by rupture-prone Takata airbags
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“s office, told NBC News had taken an active role in managing the inquiry. In an interview with the Associated Press, Rosenstein said he would recuse himself from supervising Mueller if he became a subject of the investigation due to his role in the dismissal of James Comey. On June 14, 2017, The Washington Post reported that Mueller”
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Mueller was appointed special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U
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Career landmark: special prosecutor (2017–2019).
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Mueller began an external review of "security, personnel, and management processes and practices" at government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton after Harold T
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Mueller was succeeded by James Comey
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Mueller served a one‑year term as consulting professor and the Arthur and Frank Payne distinguished lecturer at Stanford University, where he focused on issues related to computer security
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Told a writer that despite his other accomplishments, he remained "most proud the Marine Corps deemed me worthy of leading other Marines
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After private meetings with Mueller and Comey at the White House, the president agreed to modify the program to address the concerns raised by Mueller, Ashcroft, and Comey
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While Attorney General John Ashcroft was hospitalized for gallbladder surgery, Deputy attorney general James Comey received a call from Ashcroft's wife informing him that White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and White
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One week before the September 11 attacks
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In 2001, Mueller's Senate confirmation hearings to lead the FBI were delayed for several months while he underwent treatment for prostate cancer.
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Career landmark: United States Deputy Attorney General (2001–2001).
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Mueller's Senate confirmation hearings to lead the FBI were delayed for several months while he underwent treatment for prostate cancer
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Career landmark: Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (2001–2013).
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Career landmark: United States Attorney for the Northern District of California (1998–2001).
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As a senior litigator in the homicide section of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
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Mueller became a partner at Hale and Dorr, specializing in white-collar crime litigation
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Mueller publicly stated that the government had been investigating the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) since 1986, an unusually visible disclosure for an ongoing case
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Career landmark: United States Assistant Attorney General (1990–1993).
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Moved to Boston to serve as an Assistant United States Attorney of the U
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Studied at University of Virginia School of Law, Juris Doctor (1973).
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From the University of Virginia School of Law, Mueller worked as a litigator at the firm Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro in San Francisco until 1976
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“I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have made it out of Vietnam. There were many—many—who did not. And perhaps because I did survive Vietnam, I have always felt compelled to contribute.”
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During an engagement in Operation Scotland II, he earned the Bronze Star with "V" device for combat valor after rescuing a wounded Marine under enemy fire during an ambush in which half of his platoon became casualties
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Studied at New York University, Master of Arts (1967).
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In Quảng Trị province by small arms fire
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Studied at Princeton University, Bachelor of Arts (1966).
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At Doctors Hospital in Manhattan, New York City, the first child of Alice C
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Born 1944-08-07.
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From the Province of Pomerania in the Kingdom of Prussia, a region whose historical boundaries later formed parts of Poland and northeastern Germany
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s office, told NBC News had taken an active role in managing the inquiry. In an interview with the Associated Press, Rosenstein said he would recuse himself from supervising Mueller if he became a subject of the investigation due to his role in the dismissal of James Comey. On June 14, 2017, The Washington Post reported that Mueller
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