On July 24, 2019, Robert Mueller appeared before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing dedicated to his report on Russian interference in the elections, at the Capitol in Washington. ALEX BRANDON / AFP
Donald Trump marked the announcement of the death of former Federal Bureau of Investigation director Robert Mueller, who died from Parkinson's disease at the age of 81, with an unusual eulogy – a scathing post on his social media platform. "Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!" wrote the president of the United States on Saturday, March 21, on his Truth Social platform.
Trump was clearly not referring to the distinguished record of this senior public servant, who earned the respect of both Democratic and Republican leaders. The president's ire was aimed at the final chapter of Mueller's long career: his appointment in 2017 as special prosecutor in the investigation into Russian interference during the first presidential election won in 2016. After an extensive investigation, Mueller, who was chosen by the president's own Department of Justice, delivered his findings in 2019. He concluded that Moscow had indeed attempted to influence the American vote. The deference that the former real estate magnate subsequently showed toward Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that this was a calculated move.
