WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III died at the age of 81 on Friday night, according to a family statement. "With deep sadness, we are sharing the news that Bob passed away on Friday night. His family asks that their privacy be respected," the family said.

President Donald J. Trump responded to the news in a Truth Social post, writing "Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!"

Mueller served as FBI Director for 12 years, beginning his tenure one week before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Republican President George W. Bush nominated Mueller to the position. After the September 11 attacks, Mueller transformed the FBI from an agency focused on solving domestic crime to one prioritizing terrorism prevention. Mueller served across presidents of both political parties and was the second-longest-serving director in FBI history, behind only J. Edgar Hoover.

President George W. Bush said in a statement he was "deeply saddened" by Mueller's death and praised Mueller for dedicating his life to public service and for overhauling the FBI's mission. President Barack Obama called Mueller one of the finest directors in the history of the FBI who saved countless lives after transforming the bureau. "But it was his relentless commitment to the rule of law and his unwavering belief in our bedrock values that made him one of the most respected public servants of our time," Obama said in a statement.

After leaving the FBI in 2013, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein asked Mueller to return to public service as special counsel in the Trump-Russia inquiry. Mueller's investigation concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election on Donald Trump's behalf and that the Trump campaign welcomed the help. Mueller and his team found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy and did not make a prosecutorial decision on whether Trump obstructed justice.

Mueller brought criminal charges against six of the president's associates, including his campaign chairman and his first national security adviser. His investigation report released in April 2019 was 448 pages long, identified substantial contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, and did not allege a criminal conspiracy.

Mueller was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the summer of 2021, according to a family statement. He retired from the practice of law at the end of 2021 and taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022 before retiring completely at the end of 2022.

Born in Manhattan in 1944, Mueller graduated from Princeton University and earned a master's degree in international relations from New York University. He joined the Marines and served three years in Vietnam, where he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.