The Bob Mueller Standard: Justice, Integrity, and Public Service

The Bob Mueller Standard: Justice, Integrity, and Public Service

June 16, 2026 · 51 min · Episode 31

About this episode

The episode discusses the ideals of federal prosecution through the lens of Bob Mueller's career.

Two former federal prosecutors on what the job is supposed to represent at its best, why Bob Mueller was the model, and the prosecutor’s unique duty to serve and protect the system itself. What does it mean to be a federal prosecutor when the client is the United States and the measure of success is not simply winning, but doing justice and doing it the right way? In the latest Steady State Sentinel podcast, former federal prosecutor and Steady State member Steve Bunnell interviews former federal prosecutor Ken Wainstein, who, among many senior positions, served as U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, General Counsel and Chief of Staff to Bob Mueller, and Homeland Security Advisor for President George W. Bush. Together, they explore best practices of their prosecutorial craft, using the legendary career of the late Bob Mueller as their North Star. They focus on Mueller's journey from Assistant Attorney General to line homicide prosecutor in Washington, D.C., during one of the city’s most violent periods, earning the admiration of detectives, judges, and colleagues alike. The conversation unpacks the unwritten values of the ideal prosecutor: integrity over…

People in this episode

Host: Steve Bunnell

Guest: Ken Wainstein

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: U.S. attorney, Department of Homeland Security

Places: Southern District of New York, Washington, D.C., United States, President George W. Bush

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