By John Dempsey, Nick Gale, and Bill Cameron
(CHICAGO) Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded guilty to one count of evading federal reporting requirements this morning in Chicago Federal Court, in a case that reportedly centers around Hastert’s sexual abuse of man decades ago, when Hastert was a Yorkville, Illinois high school teacher and coach.
Prosecutors say Hastert pulled out large sums of money over several years to pay hush money to a person the government describes only as “Individual A”.
Numerous media outlets have reported Hastert paid “Individual A” to cover up his sexual abuse of the man.
Court documents say “Individual A” was at one point receiving $100,000 every three months. No other details came out in today’s court hearing, however after the hearing, the U.S. Attorney’s office released a statement implying it may possibly release details about the alleged sexual abuse, at Hastert’s February 29th sentencing hearing.
The statement reads, “Now that Mr. Hastert has pled guilty, and the Court has accepted his guilty plea, the case will proceed to sentencing. As part of the sentencing process in this case, as in all cases, we will provide the Court with relevant information about the defendant’s background and the charged offenses, and the defendant will have an opportunity to do the same, so that the Court can impose an appropriate sentence taking into account all relevant factors in the case. We have no further comment about the matter at this time.”
Former Federal Prosecutor Jeffrey Cramer tells WLS, he thinks that statement means the public may eventually find out details about Hastert’s alleged sexual abuse, saying, “I think that’s a fair reading because the government has an interest in making sure the complete picture or the true picture of an individual is before a court. I don’t think the prosecutors are just going to sit on their heels and read hundreds upon hundreds of letters saying what a great guy Mr. Hastert was, when they are armed with information that says the opposite”.
In the plea deal, prosecutors recommended a sentence of zero to six months in prison but the punishment will ultimately be up to the judge when Hastert is sentenced February 29th.
Hastert left court without talking to reporters. It is a stunning fall from grace for a man who was once third in line to become President of the United States.
© 89 WLS-AM Staff
