Hastert intends to change his plea to guilty in court Wednesday, October 28, 2015. Sentencing is set for February 29.
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Smith said such charges are easy to prove, although Congress is considering legislative reform that would effectively do away with the crime.
When the judge asked to describe his wrongdoing in his own words, Hastert read from a brief written statement that – like his indictment – focused on how he technically broke banking laws. However, the judge will ultimately decide Hastert’s sentence. The deal would allow Hastert to avert a trial in the case. He’s expected this morning, George, to plead guilty to one of those two counts either one of which normally means time behind bars, George. “He looked at me and said, ‘It was with Dennis Hastert, ‘” she said. Hastert, 73, told District Judge Thomas Durkin that he knew that what he was doing was wrong in a hearing that lasted a little over 20 minutes.
Hastert could serve a prison sentence, or possibly walk away with no prison time. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have only confirmed that they have worked out a deal. “We will decide that at a later date”.
Hastert will face probation or up to six months in jail, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The indictment details payments and a payment plan to an “Individual A” by Hastert.
A guilty plea would seal the downfall of a man who rose from obscurity in rural Illinois to the nation’s third-highest political office. Hastert was the longest-serving Republican speaker in U.S. House history, holding the position from 1999 to 2006. That career is nearly certainly over.
Add one more notch to Republican corruption and criminality. Hastert allegedly made 15 withdrawals of $50,000 from 2010 to 2012. It is there that he allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct with a high school wrestling manager, and later “structured currency transactions” to hide his actions in 2010.
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Hastert circumvented the federal requirement that requires banks to report withdrawals of more than $10,000.
