Former Speaker Dennis Hastert Dies at 84
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, noted for being the longest-serving Republican speaker, has passed away at the age of 84 after his life took a drastic turn due to his admission of child sexual abuse.
Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell confirmed that Hastert died at home from natural causes on Monday.
Hastert was the Speaker of the House from 1999 until his retirement in 2007, previously working as a high school history teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School from 1965 to 1981. During his time as speaker, he played a pivotal role in forwarding much of former President George W. Bush’s legislative agenda.
His colleagues in the GOP often referred to him as “coach,” a nod to his background in athletics.
Under Hastert’s leadership, there was a noticeable increase in earmarks—specific projects included in appropriations bills—for individual congressmen. Notably, he secured approximately $24 million in federal earmarked funds for institutions in Aurora, Illinois, from 1999 to 2005.
The trajectory of his career changed dramatically in 2013 when the FBI launched an investigation into his unusual cash withdrawals, which totaled about $3.5 million, made as payments to someone referred to as “Individual A.”
In 2015, a federal grand jury indicted Hastert for making false statements to investigators and for structuring financial transactions to avoid federal reporting. He pled guilty to the latter charge that same year.
Prosecutors alleged that during his time as a wrestling coach, Hastert had molested several boys and was paying them hush money to maintain their silence. However, he faced no criminal charges related to the sexual abuse due to the statute of limitations.
In court, during his sentencing hearing, Hastert did admit to molesting boys while he was teaching. Consequently, he was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, two years of supervised release, and mandated to undergo sex-offender treatment. Additionally, he was fined $250,000 for a victims’ fund.
“Nothing is more stunning than to have the words ‘serial child molester’ and ‘speaker of the House’ in the same sentence,” remarked U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin during Hastert’s sentencing.
Hastert attended the hearing in a wheelchair after having suffered a stroke.
“I want to apologize to the boys I mistreated when I was their coach,” Hastert stated to the court.
“Don’t be a coward, Mr. Hastert,” retorted the sister of one victim. “Tell the truth. What you did wasn’t misconduct. It was sexual abuse of a minor.”
After serving 13 months, Hastert was released from prison in 2017, marking him as the highest-ranking elected official to have served time. It’s worth noting the Speaker of the House is second in line for presidential succession, right after the vice president.
Shortly after his sentencing, his portrait was taken down from the Capitol, following then-Speaker Paul Ryan’s orders. Also, a popular wrestling tournament in Illinois that bore Hastert’s name was renamed to the Fighting Foxes Invitational.
“The defendant is a serial child molester,” Judge Durkin reiterated during Hastert’s hearing. “Some actions can obliterate a lifetime of good works.”
Prosecutors maintained that Hastert took advantage of his position as a high school coach to abuse five boys as young as 14, engaging in acts that included inappropriate touching and sexual acts. One instance involved him inviting a boy into his hotel room during a wrestling camp, where he then assaulted him. This individual later confronted Hastert, which led to the payment of $3.5 million for silence.
Prosecutors also pointed out that Hastert had a recliner placed in the boys’ locker room that had a direct view of the showers.
