A federal judge overseeing Dennis Hastert’s hush-money case has granted prosecutors’ request to delay the former U.S. House Speaker’s sentencing until the end of next month, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. It’s the first time the court has referenced sex abuse in the case involving the former IL congressman and House speaker.
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Hastert pleaded guilty last October to circumventing financial disclosure laws in the course of paying $1.7 million to the individual who was threatening to reveal that Hastert had abused him.
Media reports, citing anonymous sources, have long claimed Hastert was trying to cover up claims he sexually molested someone when he was a high school wrestling coach.
‘The fact that the defense may not challenge the specifics of what the defendant did to Mr. D does not mean the Court shouldn’t consider the effects on Individual D… how this has affected his life, ‘ Block said at the hearing.
Prosecutors tell the judge that they recently learned an alleged victim, referred to as “Individual D”, is deciding whether to testify at the April 27 sentencing.
“There are victims in this case that deserve closure”, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block told the judge without elaborating. “He’s not a hundred percent certain he wants to do that, but he has been moving in that direction”, Block said, according to the transcript.
“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”, the transcript quoted Durkin as saying.
The prosecutor said the man had a business trip that conflicted with the April 8 sentencing date set previously.
The abuse allegedly took place while Hastert was a high school teacher in IL.
Block also told Durkin that the sister of another alleged victim could also testify at sentencing. Doing so may result in civil and/or criminal penalties. “So, I don’t know exactly what she would offeror what benefit the Court would receive from her hearsay statements which have been, as I say, publicized widely up to this point in time”. The Justice Department alleges that Hastert made large withdrawals after he agreed to pay an unnamed subject $3.5 million. The judge previously agreed to delay sentencing after defense attorneys said Hastert almost died from a blood infections and suffered a stroke. Prosecutors are recommending a sentence of up to six months behind bars, but the judge will make the final decision.
Durkin likewise said he wanted to hear from the woman, who is prepared to testify about her brother’s experiences with Hastert. The U.S. attorney’s office declined comment. She has told reporters that the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed her about Hastert. That portion of the hearing, however, was sealed by the court and won’t be made public. He says the allegations could deprive Hastert of a fair trial.
The Republican politician has pleaded guilty to the bank charges. A judge, however, could go beyond that recommendation and sentence Hastert to as much as five years.
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MARCH 16, 2016: The judge orders an independent review of Hastert’s medical records.
