Ex-Mueller counsel retiring from DOJ

Published June 19, 2019 9:10pm ET



A top Justice Department official who served as a counsel for special counsel Robert Mueller is retiring.

An expert on criminal law, Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben is leaving the agency after more than 30 years of service.

“On behalf of the Office of the Solicitor General, I thank Michael for his many years of service to the Department. We wish him the best of luck in the next chapter of his career,” Solicitor General Noel Francisco said in a statement.

Dreeben’s long career at the DOJ hit a milestone in 2016 when he made his 100th oral argument before the Supreme Court on behalf of the U.S. government.

During his final years in office, Dreeben defended Mueller’s mandate against legal challenges and fought against appeal efforts.

Mueller completed his 22-month investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 election in March after roughly 2,800 subpoenas, 500 search warrants, and 500 witness interviews.