Robert Mueller III
ROBERT MUELLER III
Mueller was born in New York City and grew up in Philadelphia. Mueller then attended Princeton University and then NYU where he earned his Masters in International Relations. He later received his J.D. from the University of Virginia. Mueller then enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in the 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War. He has received a Bronze Star, two Commendation medals, the Purple Heart, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his service.
Mueller then went to work for the United States Attorney Offices in San Francisco, eventually becoming chief of the criminal division. He then moved to Boston to work for the Assistant US Attorney's office on cases of fraud, terrorism, narcotics, money laundering, and public corruption. Mueller than served as partner in Boston law firm Hill and Barlow before returning to public service with the Department of Justice. In 1995, he became the senior litigator in the homicide unit of the District of Columbia US Attorney's Office. In 1998, he was named US Attorney for the Northern District of California.
In 2001, George W. Bush nominated Mueller for the position of FBI Director. He began his post one week before the September 11 attacks. Mueller had such a stellar reputation as FBI Director that President Obama asked that he extend his position another two years beyond the traditional 10-year term. He agreed and served until September, 2013, when he was replaced by James Comey.
In the Know
Mueller is a registered Republican but is known less for his party allegiance and more for his ram-rod straight morals.
In 2004, Bush White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales tried to bypass court warrants for domestic wiretapping, part of a program code-named STELLAR WIND. This operation was a largely secret part of the National Security Agency's Terrorist Surveillance Program. Then FBI Director Mueller, along with Deputy Attorney General James Comey, famously threatened to resign from office if the White House supported this program. Showing a strong moral force now uncommon in Washington, the Justice Department successfully prevented the White House carrying out illegal wiretapping on citizens, in large part thanks to Mueller and Comey.
2017 Headlines
On May 17, 2017, Robert Mueller was appointed special counsel by the US Justice Department to oversee the special investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election.
Mueller's appointment is not only significant because it confirms the necessity of a special counsel; it is also significant because Mueller has a reputation for being one of the most non-partisan, independent, and moral government servants. In short, Mueller has no loyalty to Trump or even to the Republican Party and there is nothing to suggest he could be swayed to reveal anything but the unbiased truth.
Mueller was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who was perhaps seeking to regain face after his letter to the President encouraging the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. Under this new task, Mueller is authorized to take over the investigation into "any coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump," as well as any other crimes noted under the statute which establishes special counsel. Those include, for example, perjury, obstruction of justice, and intimidation of witnesses. If Mueller deems it necessary, he is authorized to prosecute any federal crimes arising from his investigation.
Fun Fact
Mueller supervised the prosecution of crime boss John Gotti and the investigation into the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. In short, he's badass AF.