Washington (USA), 21 March (LaPresse/AP) – Robert S. Mueller III, former director of the FBI, has died at the age of 81. “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bob passed away” last night, his family said in a statement today, “his family asks that their privacy be respected”. Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, Mueller transformed the United States’ leading law enforcement agency into a counter-terrorism force and later became the special counsel tasked with investigating links between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, in the so-called Russiagate scandal. At the FBI, Mueller set to work almost immediately to review the agency’s mission to meet the law enforcement needs of the 21st century, beginning his 12-year tenure just a week before the 11 September attacks and serving under presidents from both political parties. He was appointed by Republican President George W. Bush.