Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who later served as special counsel who oversaw the 2016 investigation into Russian election interference, has died at the age of 81.

“It is with deep sadness that we share the news that Bob passed away” on Friday night, his family said Saturday in a statement to the News. “His family asks that their privacy be respected.”

The cause of his death was not immediately known, although two people familiar with the situation told MS Now that the lawyer had been battling Parkinson’s disease.

Mueller served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 after being nominated by President George W. Bush. Officially taking office a week before the September 11, 2001, attacks, Mueller introduced sweeping changes to focus the office on fighting terrorism.

In 2017, the Justice Department appointed Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He was appointed after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey, who had been investigating possible collusion between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia.

Mueller’s investigation led to dozens of indictments, and his report on the investigation, better known as the Mueller report, outlined extensive Russian interference in the choice. However, the report could not conclude that the Trump campaign illegally conspired to assist Russia in its interference.

The report also did not conclude that Trump had criminally obstructed justice, although it also did not explicitly exonerate him, despite the president’s claims of “total EXONERATION.”

Former special counsel Robert Mueller, seen here in 2019 testifying before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on his report on Russian election interference, has died at the age of 81.
Former special counsel Robert Mueller, seen here in 2019 testifying before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on his report on Russian election interference, has died at the age of 81.

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Mueller became a target of the ire of Trump and the MAGA world amid the investigation, with the president repeatedly calling the investigation a “witch hunt.” Following news of Mueller’s death on Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Well, I’m glad he’s dead.”

Mueller was married to Ann Cabell Standish, with whom he had two daughters. He also had three grandchildren.