Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller is back in the news again, though this time for something other than his two-year-long investigation into President Donald Trump that ultimately fizzled and failed to bring down the presidency as intended.
Mueller has returned to the prominent Washington, D.C. law firm at which he was a partner prior to becoming the special counsel and leading the anti-Trump probe, according to reports.
Back to his old job
Politico reported on Tuesday that Mueller has resumed his position at the WilmerHale law firm, where he will focus on conducting “high-profile” investigations and crisis management.
In a statement released to the media by the law firm, Mueller said, “I’m glad to be at WilmerHale once again, a firm with a tradition of honoring public service.”
“It was an honor to serve as special counsel. Now, I look forward to resuming my private practice alongside the talented lawyers at the firm,” he added.
Interestingly, Politico noted that two other attorneys who had been on Mueller’s special counsel team — James Quarles and Aaron Zebley — were also with WilmerHale prior to joining the Russia collusion investigation and had similarly returned to the law firm.
The media outlet indicated that all of the top lawyers who worked on Mueller’s team have now moved on to other employment, either working at private law firms or teaching at law schools.
Resuming private practice
Robert Novick, co-managing partner at WilmerHale, said of Mueller’s return: “We couldn’t be happier to have Bob, our extraordinary friend and colleague, return to WilmerHale.”
He added: “Few lawyers have been entrusted with as many matters of national significance as Bob, in both his public service and in private practice. Bob embodies the highest values of our firm and profession. We’re privileged to work alongside him once again.”
Mueller first joined WilmerHale in 2014 after he stepped down from his position as director of the FBI and had been a partner until he stepped away in 2017 to lead the special counsel investigation against the president.
He finally stepped down as special counsel in May, just weeks after the release of his voluminous final report that was full of innuendo and rumor, but which ultimately determined that no Americans had colluded or conspired with Russia and there was no real evidence that Trump had obstructed justice.
It remains to be seen exactly what Mueller will do while at WilmerHale, but given his dismal — and rather frail and forgettable — performance in a congressional hearing about his final report, odds are his work at the law firm won’t require much in the way of public appearances.