A man who has accused former House Speaker Dennis Hastert of sexually abusing him when he was a teenager is suing him for $1.8 million in damages.
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In the years following the abuse, the man “suffered severe panic attacks which lead to periods of unemployment, career changes, bouts of depression, hospitalization, and long-term psychiatric treatment”, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint also reveals that what prompted him to confront Hastert in 2008 was that he “was made aware for the first time that Hastert had abused someone else, too”. Two wrestlers said Hastert performed sex acts on them.
The lawsuit claims that when Doe was 14, Hastert offered to take him to wrestling camp, even though it was only for high school students.
Hastert will be sentenced Wednesday, where one victim and the sister of another victim are expected to testify.
Hastert, 74, had pleaded guilty in federal court last fall in a related hush money case and could serve time in prison. When they finally did confirm it, they went into graphic detail, including how Hastert would sit in a recliner chair in the locker room with a direct view of the showers. When asked by Hastert for the amount he thought would compensate him for this harm, Doe suggested $3.5 million.
Earlier this month, court records indicated that Individual A was still trying to collect the $1.8 million, plus statutory interest – a suggestion confirmed by Monday’s suit. Here’s what’s the I-Team knows about the accusers: INDIVIDUAL A Individual A was 14 years old when Hastert abused him, authorities state in court documents filed by federal prosecutors in April.
The news that so many of Hastert’s peers were standing by him turned him into a trending topic on Saturday.
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Plaintiff alleges Hastert has paid $1.7 million of the $3.5 million agreed upon compensation, which was the subject of a Federal investigation due to large cash withdrawals. Among the supporters were family members, employees and colleagues, including former Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, who called Hastert a man of “integrity” and “strong faith”. Several people have written letters of support for Hastert. In arguing for probation, defense attorneys described Hastert as apologetic, saying their client “is deeply sorry and apologizes for his misconduct that occurred decades ago and the resulting harm he caused to others”.
