The family of former FBI Director Robert Mueller has disclosed that he is suffering from Parkinson's disease and is no longer medically fit to testify before Congress about the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The 80-year-old, who led the Russia inquiry into Donald Trump, was due to appear before the House Oversight Committee next month, but the subpoena has been rescinded.
In a statement to The New York Times, his family confirmed that he was diagnosed in the summer of 2021 and retired from legal practice at the end of that year. He taught at his law school alma mater during the autumn terms of 2021 and 2022 before retiring fully at the end of 2022. The family has asked for privacy.
Mueller served as the sixth FBI director from 2001 to 2013 and later as special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. His probe found no coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow, but did not reach a conclusion on obstruction of justice. The Oversight Committee had sought his testimony over the FBI's handling of Epstein's 2005 Florida prostitution case.
Reports from Real Clear Investigations indicate Mueller has resided in a memory-care facility for several years. During his 2019 congressional testimony, he appeared to struggle at times to recall details of his investigation. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz suggested on social media that signs of decline were evident during earlier hearings, adding that Mueller 'was used by some very vicious people'.
Other figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, former attorneys general Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Merrick Garland and Bill Barr, are scheduled to appear. The development comes amid pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi over the release of Epstein-related documents, with accusations of a cover-up from both parties.
