President Trump accuses President Obama of treason over 2016 election scandal
Donald Trump claims that former President Barack Obama committed treason by trying to sabotage his 2016 election victory in connection with Russian interference.
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As farewells and condolences begin to circulate in the wake of Robert Mueller’s death, the former special counsel has received no sympathy from President Donald Trump, who led the investigation.
Mueller, who served as special counsel in the investigation into possible Russian government interference in favor of Trump in the 2016 presidential election, died at age 81 after battling Parkinson’s disease for several years. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as FBI director from September 4, 2001 to September 4, 2013.
Mueller’s death was first reported by MS Now on March 21, but on Saturday afternoon, President Donald Trump appeared to confirm it with a post on Truth Social: “Robert Mueller has passed away. Thank goodness he’s dead. He can’t hurt innocent people anymore! President Donald J. Trump.”
The feud between Mr. Trump and Mr. Mueller stems from the former FBI director’s involvement in the investigation and the final report in 2019, which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to aid Mr. Trump. However, there was no evidence that Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russian government at the time.
President Trump says an investigation into ties between his first White House campaign and Moscow is a hoax. The president, along with other Republicans, continues to hold former President Barack Obama’s staff responsible for the “Russia collusion hoax.”
President Obama’s press secretary, Patrick Rodenbush, responded to President Trump’s claims, telling the BBC and the New York Times in 2025, “Out of respect for the office of the president, our office typically does not respond respectfully to the nonsense and misinformation that continues to flow out of this White House.”
“But these claims are outrageous enough and have merit. These bizarre claims are ridiculous and a weak attempt to distract.”
Mueller continued to defend Russia collusion investigation
Before Mueller’s death, he continued to defend his two-year investigation into collusion between Russia and President Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, writing in a 2020 Washington Post op-ed that “the work of the special counsel’s office — its reports, indictments, guilty pleas, and convictions — should speak for itself.”
Mueller also disputed claims by Trump and others that the investigation was “illegal” and that the special counsel’s “motives were inappropriate.”
“Russia’s actions posed a threat to American democracy, and it was important that they be investigated and understood,” Mueller wrote. “By the end of 2016, the FBI had evidence that Russians had signaled to Trump campaign advisers that they could help the campaign by anonymously releasing information damaging to Democratic candidates.”
In addition to defending the investigation, he also disputed claims by longtime Republican strategist and Trump ally Roger Stone that he was a “victim of my office.” Stone was convicted in 2019 of seven felonies related to the 2016 Russia investigation, including obstructing Congressional investigations, making false statements and witness tampering. He was sentenced to 40 months in prison, but was later granted clemency.
“In Mr. Stone’s case, as in all of our cases, we made every decision based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law,” Mueller said in an op-ed. “The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Any claims to the contrary are false.”
Muller diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021
In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, Mueller’s family said: “It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Bob’s passing last night. His family asks that their privacy be respected.”
Muller’s death came nearly five years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The New York Times reported that he learned of his diagnosis in the summer of 2021, citing a 2025 family statement obtained by the newspaper. The statement came just days before he was called to testify before a Congressional committee about the government’s response to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is an age-related degenerative brain disease that causes parts of the brain to deteriorate, causing slowed movements, tremors, and problems with balance.
“He retired from practicing law at the end of that year,” the statement said, according to the Times. “He taught at his alma mater’s law school in the fall of 2021 and 2022, retiring at the end of 2022. His family requests that their privacy be respected.”
Contributed by Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy & Aysha Bagchi USA TODAY
