Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) arrives at the federal courthouse in Chicago June 9 for his arraignment on federal charges that he broke federal banking laws and lied about the money when questioned by the FBI. The indictment was unsealed in the District Court of Northern Illinois on Thursday, May 28, 2015.
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In his plea agreement with prosecutors, Hastert admitted he arranged with a person identified only as Individual A in 2010 to pay a total of $3.5 million to cover up past misconduct from his days as a wrestling coach and teacher.
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert suffered a stroke early last month and has been hospitalized for six weeks as he awaits sentencing for a hush-money case.
Hastert pleaded guilty in October to structuring money transactions in a way to evade requirements to report where the money was going.
“In light of his recent hospital stay, I would hope that probation in lieu of confinement would be considered in determining his sentence”, wrote C. William Pollard, who is the chairman emeritus of the ServiceMaster Company. Mr. Hastert has suffered a stroke and has been treated for Sepsis.
Hastert, who was speaker from 1999 to 2007, was a little-known IL lawmaker whose reputation for congeniality helped him ascend the ranks of Congress to become the longest-serving Republican speaker in US history.
Hastert’s attorney Thomas Green issued a statement Thursday confirming the news. He adds that Hastert “was known as a man of integrity”.
Attorney Tom Green said that during the first week of November, Hastert, 73, was admitted to the hospital.
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The Illinois Republican’s sentencing date is February 29.
