On Aug. 5, 2025, the conservative writer Paul Sperry posted on X (archived) that former FBI director and special counsel Robert Mueller had "been living in a memory-care facility for the past few years."
NEW: House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Robert Mueller to appear for a Sept. 2 deposition to provide details from an FBI investigation of Jeffrey Epstein from decades ago -- even though sources tell me Mueller has been living in a memory-care facility for the past few years
— Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) August 5, 2025
Sperry did not provide any concrete information supporting the claim. However, a few news outlets picked up the rumor, including the Daily Mail, a British tabloid, and the conservative outlet The Gateway Pundit, known for spreading conspiracy theories. It also spread on social media, including in a post (archived) by former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Snopes reached out to Sperry asking for more information about his sourcing. We also attempted to locate and contact Mueller for the story. We had not heard back from either at time of publishing.
However, we did not find any credible information supporting the rumor that Mueller was living in a memory-care facility. Because of this, we have not rated this claim.
Much of Sperry's reporting aims to discredit the claim that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by supporting Donald Trump's campaign — Mueller was the special counsel in charge of investigating such claims. His articles have referred to it as a hoax. (No charges were ever filed against Trump during the investigation, but members of Trump's staff were prosecuted).
Sperry shared the claim in response to the news that the House Oversight Committee had issued subpoenas for several former high-ranking government officials, including six former attorneys general, two former FBI directors (one of whom was Mueller), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton. The subpoenas were related to information about disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. According to The Associated Press, the FBI began investigating Epstein in 2006.
Weeks after the claim was initially shared, news broke that Mueller had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2021, and was therefore physically unable to testify. The House Oversight Committee withdrew its subpoena accordingly.
Parkinson's is a nervous-system disorder that primarily affects motor function, generally in the form of tremors, slow movement, stiff limbs, poor balance and slurred speech, according to the Mayo Clinic. Memory issues can occur with Parkinson's, but generally do not appear until later in the disorder's progression. Parkinson's, which does not have a cure, is caused by the breakdown and death of nerve cells in the brain.
While the announcement of Mueller's diagnosis might support the rumor he was living in a memory care facility, there was still no conclusive evidence to back the claim. In a statement to The New York Times, Mueller's family asked that "his privacy be respected."