On September 2, 2025, the U.S. House Oversight Committee made a significant announcement: the withdrawal of its subpoena for former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller, who had been called to testify in the ongoing congressional investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision, which reverberated throughout Washington and beyond, was prompted by serious health concerns that have recently come to light regarding Mueller, now 81 years old.
According to multiple reports, including detailed coverage by The New York Times and Daily Mail, Mueller has been battling Parkinson’s disease since the summer of 2021. His family confirmed the diagnosis in a statement to The New York Times: “Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the summer of 2021. He retired from the practice of law at the end of that year. He taught at his law school alma mater during the fall of both 2021 and 2022, and he retired at the end of 2022. His family asks that his privacy be respected.”
Mueller’s health has reportedly deteriorated in recent months, with sources close to the family telling The New York Times that he has experienced increasing difficulty speaking and significant mobility issues. According to Daily Mail, Mueller is now residing in a memory care facility, a detail that underscores the severity of his condition. These developments made it impossible for him to appear before Congress as initially planned.
The congressional committee had sought Mueller’s testimony due to his role as FBI director during key years of the Epstein federal investigations. Specifically, Mueller served as the sixth director of the FBI from 2001 to 2013, a tenure that included the controversial 2008 decision when a 60-count draft indictment against Epstein was dropped in exchange for Epstein pleading guilty to two lesser state prostitution charges. This nonprosecution agreement came under renewed scrutiny after Epstein’s 2019 indictment, which accused him of continuing to abuse underage girls after his brief incarceration a decade earlier.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle had expressed keen interest in hearing from Mueller, hoping he could shed light on the FBI’s actions during the Epstein probe. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which had initially issued the subpoena for Mueller’s testimony, stated late last week that it would withdraw the request, citing the former director’s health issues. “We’ve learned that Mr. Mueller has health issues that preclude him from being able to testify,” a congressional source told Daily Mail.
Mueller’s storied career has placed him at the center of several of the nation’s most high-profile investigations. Beyond his role in the Epstein case, Mueller is perhaps best known for leading the special counsel investigation into alleged ties between Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. The resulting document, the so-called “Mueller Report,” became the focal point of heated political debate and led to Mueller testifying before Congress in July 2019. During that hearing, as reported by Daily Mail, Mueller at times struggled to recall details and frequently needed to consult his notes—a performance that some observers later interpreted as early signs of his health decline.
Mueller’s retirement from public life was gradual. After stepping away from the practice of law at the end of 2021, he continued to teach at his law school alma mater during the fall semesters of both 2021 and 2022, before retiring fully at the end of 2022. His family’s request for privacy regarding his health has been echoed by many in Washington, who acknowledge both the gravity of his diagnosis and the toll that public scrutiny can take on a family already facing difficult times.
Despite Mueller’s inability to testify, the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Epstein’s network and the broader failures of law enforcement in the case is far from over. Other prominent figures have also been called to testify. According to Daily Mail, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are scheduled to appear before the committee in October. Additionally, former FBI Director James Comey has been compelled to provide testimony. The committee’s pursuit of answers reflects the enduring public demand for accountability in the Epstein matter, which has continued to cast a long shadow over the American justice system.
The circumstances surrounding the Epstein investigation have long been a source of controversy. As reported by Nexstar Media Inc., the 2008 plea deal that allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges in exchange for a guilty plea to lesser state charges was widely criticized after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and subsequent death in jail. Many have questioned whether justice was truly served, and congressional leaders have vowed to examine every facet of the case, including the roles played by top law enforcement officials like Mueller.
Mueller’s absence from the witness stand is likely to be felt keenly by lawmakers and the public alike. Some, like former Representative Matt Gaetz, have suggested that signs of Mueller’s decline were apparent during his 2019 congressional testimony. Gaetz, now a conservative TV host, remarked on social media, “It was clear this is where things were heading when we questioned him before Congress. Mueller was used by some very vicious people. I’m not sure he really ever knew what was happening in the investigation.” Such comments highlight the contentious nature of Mueller’s legacy, with critics and supporters alike debating his impact on the nation’s most consequential legal and political battles.
Yet, for all the political drama, the human side of the story is impossible to ignore. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and, in advanced stages, can impair memory and speech. For someone who spent decades at the highest levels of government service, the diagnosis is especially poignant. Mueller’s family, in their statement, emphasized their wish for privacy, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has watched a loved one grapple with serious illness.
As the House Oversight Committee forges ahead with its probe, the spotlight will inevitably shift to other witnesses and new lines of inquiry. Still, the withdrawal of Robert Mueller’s subpoena marks a significant moment in the investigation, a reminder of both the relentless pace of political life and the inescapable realities of human frailty. The search for answers in the Epstein case continues, but one of the most prominent figures in recent American legal history will not be taking the stand.
