Mr. Mueller’s lifetime of service reflects his commitment to serving the American people with honor, integrity and courage.
As a young man, Mr. Mueller served with distinction in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Bronze Star, 2 Navy Commendation Medals, the Purple Heart and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for his leadership and exemplary service.
He received the Bronze Star for “heroic achievement” after leading his fellow Marines through an eight-hour battle, where, under enemy fire...
“Second Lieutenant Mueller fearlessly moved from one position to another, directing the accurate counterfire of his men and shouting words of encouragement to them…. [H]e then skillfully supervised the evacuation of casualties from the hazardous fire area.”
He sustained a bullet wound when he responded to an ambush by enemy forces on Marines in his command. He received the Navy Commendation Medal with a citation praising him for rushing to save his fellow Marines while “completely disregarding his own safety.”
Mr. Mueller not only fought courageously on the battlefield, but upon returning home and earning his law degree, he continued serving his country throughout his legal career.
After serving in U.S. Attorney’s offices in Boston and San Francisco for over a decade, he later served at the Department of Justice, leading the Criminal Division under President George H. W. Bush.
There he oversaw cases ranging from the prosecution of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to the Lockerbie bombing.
In 2001, Mr. Mueller was nominated by a second Republican President, George W. Bush, as the Director of the FBI. He was confirmed unanimously by the Senate.
His tenure at the FBI, which included leading the response to the 9/11 attacks and spearheading the Bureau’s efforts to combat cybercrime, has been widely praised. In fact, in 2011, as his ten-year term was set to end, we in the Senate voted 100-0 to extend his term until 2013.
Though our political system has become more polarized, each time Mr. Mueller has been named or nominated for a new position, he has received unqualified praise from people across the political spectrum – and rightly so.
With Mr. Mueller’s record as a war hero, a dedicated public servant and an expert in law enforcement, it is hard to imagine anyone better suited to lead the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
There is no one in D.C. or all of America better prepared to do this job.
