Robert Mueller (1944–2026) was an American law enforcement official known for his extensive career in public service. He served as the assistant attorney general for the criminal division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) from 1990 to 1993 and led the prosecution for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Mueller was appointed director of the FBI in September 2001, just one week before the September 11 terrorist attacks, and was tasked with assigning agents to pursue leads and gather intelligence related to the attacks. He also made significant changes at the agency as he shifted the focus from combating crime to countering terrorism.
In May 2017 Mueller was appointed special counsel to oversee the DOJ’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which was won by Donald Trump. By March 2019, Mueller’s investigation had resulted in the indictment of 34 people, 7 of whom had pleaded guilty. That month Mueller completed his work and submitted his findings, in which he stated that “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.” U.S. attorney general William Barr decided that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Trump had obstructed justice.