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Robert Mueller is an American lawyer and law enforcement official who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. He has also worked in private law practices in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C. and served as an assistant attorney general and U.S. attorney in two regions. Mueller joined the law firm WilmerHale as a partner in 2014 and was appointed as a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign. In this role, Mueller had the powers of a US attorney and could prosecute individuals for crimes such as perjury and obstruction of justice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 August 1944 |
| Place of birth | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Princeton University (B.A., 1966), University of Virginia School of Law (1973) |
| Military service | Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam War |
| Military awards | Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry |
| Political affiliation | Republican |
| Legal career | Private law practice, public law enforcement, assistant attorney general, U.S. attorney, homicide prosecutor, acting deputy attorney general, FBI director (2001-2013), special counsel (2017-2019), partner at WilmerHale |
| Notable investigations | Pan Am Flight 103 bombing, Ray Rice domestic abuse incident, Russian interference in 2016 U.S. election, Trump campaign's ties to Russia |
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What You'll Learn
Robert Mueller's career in public service
Robert Mueller is a prominent American law enforcement official known for his extensive career in public service. After graduating from Princeton University in 1966, Mueller served as a marine corps officer for three years, including a year in Vietnam, where he received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Following his military service, Mueller obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1973. He began his legal career as a litigator in San Francisco until 1976, after which he joined the U.S. Attorney's Offices. Mueller's early legal career focused on criminal law, and he rose to become the chief of the criminal division in the Northern District of California. In 1982, he transitioned to the District of Massachusetts in Boston, where he tackled significant financial fraud, terrorism, and public corruption cases.
Mueller briefly returned to private practice, working at the law firm of Hill and Barlow in Boston. However, his dedication to public service led him back to the government in 1989, when he joined the United States Department of Justice as an assistant to the Attorney General. During this time, he also served as the acting deputy attorney general. In 1990, Mueller was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, where he oversaw notable prosecutions, including the investigation into the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
In 1993, Mueller became a partner at the Boston-based law firm Hale and Dorr, specialising in white-collar crime litigation. Once again, Mueller answered the call of public service in 1995, rejoining the government as a senior litigator in the Homicide Section of the District of Columbia United States Attorney's Office. From 1998 to 2001, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, where he improved performance and established himself as a top-notch law enforcer.
Mueller's most notable role in public service came in 2001, when he was nominated and confirmed as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He served in this position from September 4, 2001, to September 4, 2013. During his tenure, Mueller faced significant challenges, including the September 11 terrorist attacks, which required him to manage a vast investigation and pursue thousands of leads worldwide. In 2017, Mueller returned to the spotlight as special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a role he held until 2019.
Throughout his career, Mueller has been recognised for his contributions to public service and national security, receiving awards such as the 2016 Thayer Award from the United States Military Academy and the 2017 Baker Award for intelligence and national security contributions.
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His time in the military
Robert Mueller III is an American lawyer who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. He was born in 1944 and graduated from Princeton University in 1966.
Mueller's military service began in 1968 when he joined the United States Marine Corps. He had attended an elite private military academy and his father had served as a Navy officer during World War II. Mueller's decision to pursue military service was influenced by the combat death of his Princeton lacrosse teammate, David Spencer Hackett, in the Vietnam War. Hackett, a Marine Corps first lieutenant, was killed in 1967 in Quảng Trị province by small arms fire.
Mueller was accepted for officer training in the Marine Corps in 1968, undergoing training at Parris Island, Officer Candidate School, Army Ranger School, and Army jump school. He served as a Marine Corps officer for three years, including one year in Vietnam, and received numerous military decorations and awards for his service. These include the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for heroism, the Purple Heart Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals with Combat "V", the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.
During his time in the military, Mueller distinguished himself through acts of bravery and leadership. On December 11, 1968, during Operation Scotland II, he earned the Bronze Star by rescuing a wounded Marine under enemy fire during an ambush. In this engagement, half of his platoon became casualties. In April 1969, Mueller was shot in the thigh by enemy gunfire but recovered and returned to lead his platoon until June 1969.
Mueller's military service concluded with his role as aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Division, then-Major General William K. Following his military career, Mueller went on to pursue a law degree, graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1973 and serving on the Virginia Law Review. He then embarked on a career in law enforcement, serving in various prominent positions within the American legal system.
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His role as FBI director
Robert Mueller is an American lawyer and law enforcement official who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. He was nominated for the position by President George W. Bush in July 2001 and was always considered the front-runner. Before his role at the FBI, Mueller had an extensive career in law and public service. He served as an assistant United States attorney, a United States attorney, assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division, a homicide prosecutor in Washington, DC, and acting United States deputy attorney general. He also worked in private law practices in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, DC.
Mueller's term as FBI director was marked by significant events, including the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, which occurred just weeks after he assumed office. In the aftermath of the attacks, Mueller played a crucial role in coordinating the FBI's response, deploying around 4,000 agents to pursue thousands of leads and gather intelligence related to the perpetrators. He sent agents to at least 30 countries as part of the international investigation.
During his tenure, Mueller demonstrated a commitment to upholding the law and protecting the rights of individuals, even in the face of pressure from the White House. Notably, he barred FBI personnel from participating in enhanced interrogation techniques with the CIA, and he defended attorney Thomas Wilner, who had faced criticism for representing Kuwaiti detainees.
Mueller's term was originally set to expire in 2011 after the mandatory 10-year term limit. However, due to his valuable contributions and the ongoing national security challenges, President Barack Obama requested that Mueller continue as FBI director for an additional two years. Congress approved a bill to this effect, and Mueller was unanimously confirmed by the Senate for the extended term.
In 2013, Mueller stepped down from his role as FBI director, passing the baton to his successor, James B. Comey. Even after his time at the FBI, Mueller continued to take on significant roles, including investigating the National Football League's (NFL) handling of a domestic abuse case involving Ray Rice in 2014. He also joined the law firm WilmerHale as a partner in 2014, taking on various special counsel roles and investigations.
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His time at WilmerHale
Robert Mueller joined the law firm WilmerHale as a partner in 2014, after stepping down as FBI director in 2013. Mueller's time at WilmerHale was eventful and often associated with high-profile cases.
One of his notable roles at the firm was overseeing the independent investigation into the NFL's handling of a domestic abuse incident involving Ray Rice, a player for the Baltimore Ravens. Mueller's investigation concluded that the NFL had not seen the surveillance video footage of Rice assaulting his then-fiancée before suspending him initially. However, he found that the league could have conducted a more thorough investigation.
In 2016, Mueller was appointed as Settlement Master in the consumer litigation surrounding the Volkswagen emissions scandal, which resulted in significant customer settlements. He also conducted an external review of security and management processes at the government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton after a data breach incident.
Mueller's work at WilmerHale continued to involve sensitive and newsworthy matters. In 2017, he was appointed as a Special Master for the disbursement of funds related to the rupture-prone Takata airbags issue, impacting automakers and consumers.
During his time at WilmerHale, Mueller also became entangled in political controversies. He was appointed by the Justice Department early in Trump's first term to investigate Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign. Mueller's investigation identified links between the Russian government and Trump's campaign but did not find sufficient evidence of criminal conspiracy. This investigation drew the ire of Trump, who targeted WilmerHale with executive orders, accusing the firm of supporting causes related to immigration and voting that conflicted with his administration's agenda.
Mueller retired from WilmerHale in 2021, concluding a period marked by significant legal and political engagements.
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His investigation into the Trump campaign
Robert Mueller is an American lawyer and law enforcement official who served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. In 2017, Mueller was appointed as a special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and Moscow. The investigation, known as the Mueller probe or the Russia investigation, focused on three key areas: Russian interference in the election, the involvement of Trump associates, and possible obstruction of justice by Trump and his inner circle.
The Mueller investigation subpoenaed Randy Credico, who was described by Roger Stone as his "backchannel" to Julian Assange. Jerome Corsi, the former Washington bureau chief of Infowars, was also subpoenaed to appear before a Mueller grand jury due to his association with Stone. The investigation involved multiple legal teams, including attorneys supervised by Mueller, a team defending President Trump, and a team representing the White House as a separate institution.
The Mueller Report, officially titled "Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election," was submitted to Attorney General William Barr on March 22, 2019. A redacted version of the 448-page report was publicly released by the Department of Justice on April 18, 2019. The report identified links between the Russian government and Trump's campaign but found insufficient evidence to establish criminal conspiracy. It also uncovered 14 criminal matters that were referred to other components of the Department of Justice.
Trump associates, including George Papadopoulos, Rick Gates, Michael Flynn, and Michael Cohen, admitted to making false statements about their contacts with Russians. The report raised questions about why Trump and his associates repeatedly denied connections to Russia, despite public reports of Russian hacking and Trump's intelligence briefing warning of Russian interference. Mueller's investigation also revealed that Trump had directed White House Counsel Don McGahn to order Mueller's firing, which Trump later denied.
The Mueller Report detailed Trump's non-cooperation with the inquiry, including his refusal to be interviewed and his provision of incomplete and imprecise written responses. The report concluded that Trump's conduct would have resulted in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice if he were not a sitting president. It also noted that Trump's efforts to fire Mueller and falsify evidence about it, limit the scope of the investigation, and prevent witnesses from cooperating constituted obstruction.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Robert Mueller is an American lawyer. He has worked in private law practices in San Francisco, Boston, and Washington, D.C.
Robert Mueller served as the sixth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2001 to 2013. He also served as a Marine Corps officer during the Vietnam War and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Robert Mueller was appointed as a special counsel in 2017 to investigate possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and potential collusion with Trump's campaign. He also investigated the National Football League's (NFL) handling of a domestic abuse incident involving Ray Rice in 2014.
Robert Mueller graduated from Princeton University and New York University. He also attended the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served on the Virginia Law Review.
Yes, critics have accused Robert Mueller of bias due to the political donations made by some members of his legal team to Democratic candidates. However, Mueller was prevented by Justice Department rules from considering ideology or partisanship when assembling his team.
