The feds say Hastert violated currency law by deliberately structuring his withdrawals to avoid disclosure. “Nothing is more stunning than having “serial child molester” and “Speaker of the House” in the same sentence”, said Judge Durkin at sentencing.
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After his blameworthy request, Hastert’s picture was expelled from the House of Representatives in the US Congress. I tried to figure out why Hastert had singled me out.
“That’s a big problem for you”, Durkin said.
Hastert admitted he arranged the payments to a person only identified as Individual A for a total of $3.5 million to cover up decades-old alleged sexual misconduct.
In addition to the prison sentence, Hastert will be required to submit to supervised release for a period of 2 years and also pay a $250,000 fine. Despite his evidence Hastert said he did not remember Cross, but admitted that he abused others. “I am deeply ashamed to be standing here today”, he said. But the judge could impose a harsher sentence. Statutes of limitations have long passed on the abuse, so he was only charged with breaking financial laws.
Scott Cross, 53, another one of Durkin’s victims, spoke during the hearing. Hastert suggested a massage could “take some pounds off”.
Hastert pleaded guilty in October to evading federal banking requirements.
“Coach Hastert sexually abused me in my senior year of high school”, he told the court. The sister of one victim says today was a victory and that Hastert will finally brought to justice.
Judge Durkin said he would recommend Hastert be sent to a prison hospital. He said the memory still causes him suffering.
Federal prosecutors hailed the victims for speaking up about the abuse.
Stopping at a motel, Hastert, the only adult on the trip, told Individual A to stay with him in one room.
The victims, prosecutors said, were boys between 14 and 17.
Notwithstanding, Hastert couldn’t be accused of the sexual misuse of his casualties as a result of the measure of time that has gone following the wrongdoings.
Stephen Reinboldt died from AIDS when he was 42. Burdge said Wednesday toward Hastert “don’t be a coward… tell the truth”. We hope his testimony will provide courage and strength to other victims of other cases of abuse to speak out and advocate for themselves. An attorney was carrying a walker.
What shocks us most about this case is that for eight years, the third most powerful man in America was secretly a criminal who got away with sexually assaulting children who looked up to him…
According to Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith, the committee in Stillwater, Okla., will only make a recommendation as to the fate of the disgraced former Speaker of the House. In a Thursday April 7, 2016 story, the newspaper says it has determined the identities of three accusers, all men whose allegations stem from when they were teenagers and Hastert was their coach in Yorkville, Ill.
His plea deal sets out a sentencing guideline ranging from probation to six months behind bars.
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Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block said that Hastert’s conduct while a high school teacher and coach was “horrendous”. If he chooses, the judge could give Hastert the maximum sentence available – five years in prison.
