Ex-FBI chief who led Russia probe dies at 81

Trump takes parting shot at foe Mueller

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Robert Mueller, the special counsel, speaks about the Russia investigation at the Justice Department in Washington, in this file photo taken on May 29, 2019.

(NYT)

Robert Mueller, the former FBI director who led a politically explosive investigation into Donald Trump's election campaign, has died aged 81, triggering a gloating response Saturday from the US president.

Mueller died late Friday, US media reported citing a family statement, without specifying a location or cause.

Mr Trump responded quickly on Truth Social, writing: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I'm glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

Mueller led the FBI for 12 years, starting just days before the Sept 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks on the United States, during which time he built up the bureau’s counter-terror mission.

After his tenure at the FBI, he was tapped as a special counsel for the Justice Department to lead an investigation into whether Mr Trump's presidential campaign conspired with Russia to get him elected.

Mueller operated for two years quietly behind the scenes, emerging in July 2019 to testify before Congress about the probe that Mr Trump regularly denounced as a “witch hunt.”