Thursday, March 24, 2016

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Could Face Sex-Abuse Victim at Sentencing


The ex Republican speaker of the House faces up to six months in federal case about cash withdrawals related to his days as a high-school wrestling coach in Illinois. I still want to know what this perv did to one boy that he was willing to pay $3.5 million to keep him quiet.


The Wall Street Journal reports:
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert could face a man who has accused him of sexual abuse when sentenced next month in a federal case about cash withdrawals allegedly related to hush money, according to a transcript from a federal court hearing.

The longest-serving Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives pleaded guilty in October to a criminal charge of structuring currency transactions to evade reporting requirements. Mr. Hastert, under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, faces up to six months in prison.

Details of the alleged misconduct weren’t disclosed in the indictment last year that surprised many in Washington and his home state of Illinois. People familiar with the matter have said Mr. Hastert allegedly agreed to pay a man known only as “individual A” to hide allegations of sexual misconduct. He is a former student of Yorkville High School in Illinois, where Mr. Hastert served as a wrestling coach and teacher before his election to Congress in 1987, people familiar with the matter have said.

During a Tuesday hearing, sexual abuse allegations were discussed for the first time in court, as federal prosecutors disclosed the likelihood a second man who has accused the speaker of abuse would testify at his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors declined to provide additional details on the second man known only as “Individual D,” and court filings pertaining to him remain under seal.

“If Individual D wants to come in and talk about being a victim of sexual abuse, he’s entitled to do so because that informs my decision about the history and characteristics of the defendant,” said U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin, according to the transcript.


Hastert poses with wrestlers in a yearbook photo.


One victim who won't be there is Steve Reinboldt, whose sister says confided in her that Hastert molested him when he was the team's equipment manager. Reinboldt died of AIDS in 1995. He said he never reported the coach because "who would believe me?"

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