Updated: Sept. 13, 2022 at 10:16 p.m.

Ken Starr, a former federal judge, United States Solicitor General and a GW alumnus, died of surgery complications at 76, his family said in a statement.

Starr graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history from GW in 1968 after transferring from Harding University in Arkansas. He served as Solicitor General under President George H.W. Bush from 1989 to 1993, before heading the “Whitewater” investigation into then-President Bill Clinton, which started as an inquiry into the president’s real estate investments but developed into a wider investigation and led to investigations into Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.

While at GW, Starr worked part time with Texas Republican Congressman Bob Price and was a member of the Delta Phi Epsilon fraternity. Starr served as the president of Baylor University from 2010 until he was fired in 2016 after Baylor was accused of failing to properly address at least six reports of sexual assault, and in 2020 Starr joined former President Donald Trump’s legal team, defending him in his first impeachment trial.

“We are deeply saddened with the loss of our dear and loving father and grandfather, whom we admired for his prodigious work ethic, but who always put his family first,” Starr’s son, Randall Starr, said in a statement. “The love, energy, endearing sense of humor and fun-loving interest Dad exhibited to each of us was truly special, and we cherish the many wonderful memories we were able to experience with him. He is now with his Lord and Savior.”

This post was updated to include the following:
This post was updated to include context regarding Starr’s removal as president of Baylor University.