Former FBI director Robert Mueller has Parkinson’s disease, family says
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Mr Mueller was known for not only his ability to remember minute facts about major national security cases but also his physical stamina.
PHOTO: ANNA MONEYMAKER/NYTIMES
Michael S. Schmidt and Nina Agarwal
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NEW YORK - Mr Robert Mueller, the former special counsel who investigated ties between US President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago, his family said in a statement on Aug 31.
In recent months, Mr Mueller, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director, has had difficulty speaking and experienced mobility issues, people familiar with his condition said.
As a result, a congressional committee has withdrawn a request for Mr Mueller to give testimony this week in its inquiry into the government’s handling of the investigations into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021,” the family said in a statement to The New York Times. “He retired from the practice of law at the end of 2021. He taught at his law school alma mater during the autumn of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022. His family asks that his privacy be respected.”
The statement from the family came after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee said it would subpoena him to testify on Sept 2.
The committee had sought to question Mr Mueller, 81, about the FBI’s handling of the Epstein investigation when he served as its director from 2001 to 2013.
Mr Mueller became FBI director two weeks before the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
During his tenure leading the bureau, he had a reputation as a commanding figure, known for not only his ability to remember minute facts about major national security cases but also his physical stamina.
Questions arose about Mr Mueller’s health after he delivered a halting performance before Congress in 2019 about his report on ties between Mr Trump’s campaign and Russia, and whether Mr Trump had obstructed that investigation.
Since he testified, Mr Mueller – who had a longstanding reputation of keeping a low profile – has not spoken publicly or given an interview to a major publication.
According to the statement released by Mr Mueller’s family, it was about two years after his appearance before Congress that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of the nervous system that gets worse over time.
The disease causes nerve cells in the brain to weaken and eventually die, leading to symptoms that affect movement, including slowness, tremors, stiffness and impaired balance.
Mental health problems including depression or anxiety may occur in the early stages.
As symptoms progress, people with Parkinson’s may struggle to walk, speak, and chew and swallow food. NYTIMES
