Ex-House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted On Federal Charges

[babylonsister]

Ex-House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted On Federal Charges

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
PublishedMay 28, 2015, 5:13 PM EDT


CHICAGO (AP) — Federal prosecutors have indicted former U.S. House Speaker House Dennis Hastert on bank-related charges.

A statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says the 73-year-old Illinois Republican is accused of structuring the withdrawal of $952,000 in cash in order to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also accused of lying to the FBI.


Read the full indictment @ link:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/former-speaker-dennis-hastert-indicted

[frazzled]

1. Okay, you got my attention

Here's the Tribune article (though I'm not sure links work if you're not a subscriber):

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dennis-hastert-20150528-story.html

I want to know who Individual A is, what s/he was blackmailing him about (it must've been pretty good if they could get $3.5 million for it), and when the trial will be. As a resident of Illinois, for once I'd be intrigued to get a notice for jury duty!!


PS: This is a pretty huge story, and I'm surprised no one has responded to your thread. I guess they're too busy posting specious defenses against non-existent allegations of racism. My impression is that made-up shit gets way more traction here than real news. I'm about ready to bail on the joint.

[7962]

16. Your PS is on the mark.

[mopinko]

19. linked to that article-

Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has plowed through about $1 million in taxpayer dollars in the last two years for an office and staff in west suburban Yorkville, thanks to a little-known perk given to ex-speakers.

Hastert, 68, a lobbyist and business consultant who retired from Congress in 2007, has hired three of his former staffers at salaries of more than $100,000 apiece to run the publicly financed office.

Taxpayers also are paying monthly rent of $6,300 to a company partly owned by three sons of a Hastert mentor and business partner. Other public funds go for an $860-a-month 2008 GMC Yukon leased from a dealership owned by a Hastert friend and campaign donor.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-use-this-hastert-0218-20100217-story.html#page=2

[Canoe52]

37. Seems like a win win...

"I'm about ready to bail on the joint."

Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split ya!

[MADem]

44. It just hit the evening news. "Individual A" may be someone who was being paid to be quiet

about a personal relationship.

I don't think they're getting Hastert for the crime (and it wasn't a crime, I do not think--it was just a relationship that he did not want revealed...because it would make him look like a MASSIVE hypocrite) , they are getting him for the cover-up. He LIED to federal officials.

He said he was taking out the money and keeping it. He wasn't -- he was transferring it to another person. He lied about this more than once.

Don't lie to federal officials. Better to say "None of your fucking business."

I had heard rumors when I was in DC about this guy. Surprised nothing came out before now.

Never a good idea to live a lie.


PS: When things get posted at the east coast commute/dinner hour, there's often a lag. The thread will pick up. It's a big news story. And, as you know, in LBN...There Can Be Only ONE (thread, that is....).

[frazzled]

52. Local Chicago public affairs program puts 2 and 2 together

from the indictment. Individual A has been and remains a resident of Yorkville, IL. That's where Hastert was a high-school teacher and wrestling coach for more than a decade before entering politics in 1981.

You do the math.

[MADem]

54. Yes, it doesn't take a rocket scientist.

It's not really surprising, either. This rumor has been in the air since he was the Speaker.

[SunSeeker]

94. Lemme guess: he got a student pregnant?

Or is it more along the lines of trapping a boy in the showers?

[MADem]

98. I don't think either of those are quite it.

I think he had an inappropriate relationship with a member of the wrestling team.

The word "misconduct" is a very different word from "abuse." I think the use of the word is deliberate.

[SunSeeker]

100. I see, not so much a Sandusky as a Foley kind of thing. nt

[MADem]

101. Maybe not even Foley, I really don't know.

Foley was flirting with underaged teens.

I think Hastert had a relationship with a member of the team. I don't know if the team member was at the age of consent, or what. It would be improper because of the coach/teacher-student aspect; it may not have been "criminal" in accordance with the law at the time....even if it was, there may be a statute of limitations.

I remember hearing mumbling about this, hell, twenty years ago, or more. Everyone was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it never did.

The Wheels of the Gods Grind Slowly....

[Justice]

2. Wow, you don't agree to pay $3.5 million unless its really, really bad

Otherwise, just do what Letterman did - come out and tell the truth, don't allow the blackmailer to win.

[kelliekat44]

57. More GOP "patriotism" They love America so much they don't want to support the government,

Think about how long it would take a "welfare queen" to cheat the Feds out of that much money. RWingers really don't want to pay their fair share of the tax burden .

[Zorra]

3. No surprise, he was House Speaker during most of the Bush pResidency.

Birds of a feather flock together.

[kysrsoze]

72. Couldn't have happened to a bigger prick

Father of the "Hastert Rule."

[Spazito]

4. Wow, very serious charges!

"According to the indictment, in 2010, Hastert agreed to provide Individual A $3.5 million in order to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct against Individual A. From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew a total of approximately $1.7 million in cash from various bank accounts and provided it to Individual A."

http://wgntv.com/2015/05/28/former-speaker-of-house-dennis-hastert-indicted-on-corruption-charges/

A "prior misconduct" worth 3.5 million to keep quiet, geez, must be a pretty ugly act on his part.

[7962]

17. So did "person A" ASK for the money or did Hastert OFFER?

Big difference!

[Spazito]

24. Not really...

the charges are bank-related charges plus lying to the FBI. The issue of the reason he was illegally withdrawing the money is tangential to the charges not central to them.

[MADem]

49. I think it may be more that Hastert would be embarrassed among his so-called friends to admit to

the so-called "misconduct."

The charges that are getting him in trouble are "bank related," not about where he may, or may not, have put his sexual organ.

[Spazito]

55. It's difficult to say given the lack of details made public so far...

We do know it involves someone who has known him for years so it is most likely a personal rather than a professional 'relationship'. We don't know if Individual A is female or male.

You make a good point as to the current charges although further charges can still be added at any time if there is evidence warranting them. I do think it is something very unsavory, at best, for him to be willing to pay 3.5 million and break the law to hide the payments.

[MADem]

60. I think Individual A is male. If anyone was taking bets, I'd put a grand down on it.

I'm not a bettor on a normal day, and I'm cheap, too. I also don't have money to throw around. But some things are almost a sure bet. That's simply based on the rumors I heard when I was working in DC and was on the Hill a lot. He was regarded as the Hypocrite of the Year, to put it mildly. Mike Rogers wasn't yet "on the case," but people were talking about him even before he became Speaker.

I had heard the "wrestling coach" story way back then--of course, it never went anywhere and no one was inclined to follow up in the lapdog media at the time. Apparently a news outlet is confirming that it's someone from the community where Hastert was doing that coaching. There may be a statute of limitations issue, or an age-of-consent threshhold that was passed, which is why they are using the "misconduct" word (notwithstanding that it's never a good idea for a teacher to mess with a student, even in a coach-athlete scenario) rather than language like "sexual assault" or anything even more dire.

If it turns out to be something else (well, there were those guys who lived with him in the bachelor pad--and he NEVER went home to his district--that's not an impossibility, either) I will be surprised.

[Spazito]

66. Given there were rumors back then, I wouldn't bet against your guess at all...

I wonder if the media, having ignored the rumors previously, will now pursue the "misconduct" that Hastert was so desperate to hide, I hope so.

[MADem]

70. The guy Hastert was always with was his Chief of Staff, Scott Palmer.

He's the miserable looking guy in the center of the photo.




Apparently they'd been together for years since his first campaign. They lived together which was unusual in the extreme for a boss-subordinate relationship.

On the rare occasions when Mrs. Hastert came to town, she stayed at the Willard, I think.

Lawrence O'Donnell's take from way-back-when: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-odonnell/who-is-scott-palmer_b_31171.html

[Spazito]

75. Rachel made an excellent point about how the indictment makes deliberate mention...

of the years he was a coach while not noting other times he was doing other things. As Rachel says, "Watch this space", more to come over time I am sure.

[MADem]

76. He got married during that time frame, to the gym teacher at the school.

That's the wife that never came to DC...well, hardly ever.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Excellent!

k&r

[Avalux]

6. Oh Denny! What have you done?! Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.

I will be very interested to see how all of this unfolds, it doesn't bode well for the ex-speaker's future.

[malaise]

9. One down - two to go???

[sulphurdunn]

21. One down, two to go.

[valerief]

108. Can't we get Rummy in there, too? nt

[mountain grammy]

23. Yes, there's that picture..

all American Thugs!!!!!

[malaise]

31. or All American

ReTHUGs

[mountain grammy]

42. Indeed!

[malaise]

46. Chris Hayes is on the story

Hush money for blackmail ---where are my freaking chocolates - this is delish.

[MADem]

53. I am guessing it wasn't phrased that way.

I am guessing it was phrased something on the lines of this:

"I've already pitched my book idea to a publisher, and I've been offered a three and a half million dollar advance for my story....."

Hey, a person's gotta make a living, don't they? If writing salacious books about their affair with a former famous government official at the highest levels of power, who knew where a lot of bodies were buried, and who maybe kissed and told, is a way to make a living, and if some of the featured players in the book don't want that information to come out, well....it is what it is.

It ain't really blackmail, it's an accommodation. He could choose to let the book come out, and let those chips fall where they may. I'm guessing he didn't want to do that, because he's so invested in not telling the truth.

Imagine what would happen if the truth came out....and no one--save those putting a check mark on his You Big Stinking Hypocrite card --really cared?

[malaise]

56. I agree but but but

that would damage his precious reputation and he was the longest serving ReTHUG Speaker in history. Remember these words now - pure as the driven snow...NOT. It's always the coverup that catches these scumbags.

[MADem]

61. I was up on the Hill a lot way back when, and I heard a lot of rumors.

Of course, that's all they were. The media wasn't inclined to go digging, but it's not like this was a huge secret to anyone who had any friends or acquaintances up there--or even saw the guy coming into work or going home with his little "entourage."

Hell, even the interns were clued in--as were the pages (ask former Rep. Foley about that business).

I love the fact that the charges are BANK RELATED, and I'm fine if they stay that way, even if the whole truth and nothing but comes out. We don't need this guy playing the "I'm being persecuted" card--and if things get rough enough, he'll probably try that.

[malaise]

69. Rachel appears ready to change that

guest coming up

[Cleita]

28. Yep. They nailed the low hanging fruit.

Now it's time to climb up a step and then two.

[malaise]

32. GTA Issa should start to worry

You do get caught eventually

[Cleita]

59. I would dance on his grave if that happened. eom

[Stellar]

40. hear, hear!!! nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

27. I can think of loads of equally deserving guys!!

Gotta start somewhere.

[williesgirl]

7. I don't understand how withdrawing the money saves the

10K reporting requirement. I thought it had to be reported following deposit? Why isn't the MSM jumping all over this?

[7962]

18. Doesnt make much sense. Withdrawals arent reported, as far as my experience.

One of my jobs requires me to withdraw between 70-100K at one time each week. I never fill out the form. But if I bring in 10k the bank makes me fill it out.

[Jamastiene]

36. Could it be that he was wiring the money to the other person's account?

Wouldn't that meet the 10k requirement for the other person?

[MADem]

51. I think he was taking it out in cash, and transferring it in cash.

He came to the attention of the feds because he initially exceeding the ten K limit. Then, after being advised of that, he started taking out amounts UNDER ten K to avoid scrutiny, but by then the 55K horse had already left the barn. He was on their radar.

[7962]

79. Now my nosiness demands to know who "person A" is and what the cash was for!!!

[MADem]

88. I think it was an ongoing effort to purchase silence.

And the silence being purchased was as a consequence of behavior that was, at a minimum, "inappropriate" and characterized as "misconduct." If it was more, we'd have to know the identity of Person A, and how old this person was when Hastert and this individual intersected.

I wonder what Mrs. Hastert will do? I don't think she and he are close. She may have known more about him than we realized.

She might want to dump and run, to get half before the lawyers take it all...!

[7962]

103. I'm afraid its going to be something along the lines of an underage person.

Otherwise, I dont see why person A would be un named.

[7962]

77. No. It only applies to cash transactions.

[Jamastiene]

81. Hmm, that is odd.

I guess we will have to wait and see what the actual charges against him are. I'm curious about it now.

[7962]

83. Curious hell, I'm admitting to being NOSY!!! Who is Person A?

But from my own dealings, it only applies to cash. I guess they dont think drug dealers do many ACH transfers or wire transactions!

[Jamastiene]

84. I want to know who Person A is too.

I'm almost afraid to find out though. If what he did was worth $3.5 million or $4 million (I have seen both numbers being used) to keep quiet, it had to be really bad. I just hope it is not another Sandusky type situation. That is always horrible to find out. Still, I'm thinking that much money, it had to be something major he was trying to hide.

[Jim Lane]

43. My understanding is that it's cash transactions totaling more than $10k during one day.

I've been asked for my SSN, so that the bank could do a Cash Transaction Report, when withdrawing more than $10k in cash or when depositing more than $10k in cash.

BUT I've never been asked to fill out the form. I just provide the information (name, SSN, and, I think, home address); the bank does the reporting.

In your case, perhaps they got your name and SSN the first time, and after that they remembered you and didn't need to ask again. It's quite possible that a CTR form was filed about your withdrawal each week without your knowledge. If they required a form for deposits, perhaps that was the bank's own rule or some other government regulation (state, maybe).

[MADem]

67. If it's a recurring withdrawal, maybe they already know what it's for...?

Were you taking it out in cash? And is it a business account? Those might get a different look than a personal account.

[7962]

78. Thats possible. Yes, its in cash every time.

And also a business acct. But a crook could open a business account by simply saying its a business acct.
But maybe like you said, they did it once and now know what its for every week.

[malaise]

47. This is about hush money

Oh My!

[Jim Lane]

50. There's no reporting requirement for small withdrawals.

The allegation is that Hastert, wanting to withdraw $50k in cash to give to Individual A, went to the bank on several different days, each time withdrawing less than $10k. That saved the requirement because the reporting kicks in only if there's a cash transaction or series of cash transactions totaling more than $10k in any one day.

Doing it that way for the purpose of evading the reporting requirement, however, is called "structuring" and it's a felony. Hastert isn't charged with making illegal payments but with structuring, which is a felony even if the cash is withdrawn for a perfectly legitimate purpose.

It was pretty silly of Hastert to get busted over reporting. He should have signed a settlement agreement with Individual A: Individual A has asserted certain claims (definitely NOT spelled out in case any media get hold of the agreement), Hastert denies liability, parties wish to resolve their difference, Hastert without admitting guilt will make payments on the following schedule, Individual A will keep this agreement and his/her underlying claims confidential. Then Hastert gives the person checks and there's no cash transaction to report.

[MADem]

65. I think--not positive, trying to remember what I heard--that he withdrew 55K in CASH.

That triggered a "HUH?" He was asked about it, and instead of saying "Back off" or "None of your business, talk to my lawyer, do-you-know-who-I-AAAAAMMMMMM?" he lied. Even if he said "I'm giving this money to a friend, now go away" he would have been OK. Instead, he said he took the money out because he didn't trust banks and was keeping it at home. Yeah, right.

Then he kept taking out money just under the limit. By then he was on their radar.

It's not the crime (or "misconduct&quot that is at issue anymore, it's the cover-up. Lying to federal officials is a jail-able offense.

[Renew Deal]

116. It sounds like basically the same way Spitzer got caught.

[malaise]

8. Breaking on M$NBComcast

now

Delish!!!

[Blue Owl]

10. Menace Hasturd?

[progressoid]

11. This is just retribution for BENGAZZZIII!!1

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Omilord!

One more little Republican diamond reverts to coal.

[perdita9]

13. Glad to see federal agents doing their job...

...and prosecuting scum.

[ybbor]

14. Now that'll buy a lot of sausage!

How does he have the time to eat it all?

[mopinko]

15. i knew something was up when he left the house.

didn't he step down mid-term?
somebody has some juicy pictures.

eta- child sex abuse, perhaps? he was a wrestling coach.

eta, he stepped down 11 months into his term after dems retook the house.

i knew then that there was a story.

[AngryAmish]

25. Yeah, I figure he buggered some high school boy.

[mopinko]

33. obvious conclusion.

cant imagine what else would be worth that sort of money.

[Action_Patrol]

85. I worked on the House side back then

He had a lot of health issues and the loss of power coupled with those made sense for him to step aside. These allegations really just put a bow on the pretty package and make it make far more sense.

[7962]

20. Probably get the Martha Stewart treatment; lying to the feds worse than the initial crime. nt

[d_b]

22. Denny Sandusky

[mountain grammy]

26. Pretty big payout for blackmail..

must be something awfully dark in old Dennis' life.

[johnnyreb]

29. Maybe Sibel was right.

Former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds is accusing the FBI of covering up improper contacts and financial dealings between certain Turkish nationals and the office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert. We speak with Sibel Edmonds and Vanity Fair journalist David Rose. [includes rush transcript]
http://www.democracynow.org/2005/8/10/did_speaker_hastert_accept_turkish_bribes

June 1, 2008
Sibel Edmonds Case: Dennis Hastert to receive payoffs for 'services rendered'
So, former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds is again proved right. For more than a year Sibel has been predicting that Dennis Hastert will join a lobbying firm involved with Turkey, and now we learn that Hastert is joining Dickstein Shapiro.

In the "Representative Engagements" section of Dickstein's website, we learn that they represented "the government of Turkey in connection with the development and financing by private sponsors of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and TransCaspian gas pipeline spanning from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean."
http://letsibeledmondsspeak.blogspot.com/2008/06/sibel-edmonds-case-dennis-hastert-to.html

[malaise]

68. Rachel just raised this

Damn!!

Maybe that coaching thing - Mr.A knows about something at the high school

[johnnyreb]

71. Dammit! Ya shoulda called me!

I was working on the latest war-criminal-of-a-rethug "28 pages" thread.

[malaise]

90. LOL

[starroute]

30. There were also those Sibel Edmond allegations

Though those don't seem like "misconduct against an individual."

http://www.democracynow.org/2005/8/10/did_speaker_hastert_accept_turkish_bribes

Former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds is accusing the FBI of covering up improper contacts and financial dealings between certain Turkish nationals and the office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert. We speak with Sibel Edmonds and Vanity Fair journalist David Rose. . . .

Vanity Fair alleges that Hastert may have been the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars of secret payments from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors and information. In the article, titled "An Inconvenient Patriot," Edmonds says that she gave confidential testimony about the payments to congressional staffers, the Inspector General and members of the 9/11 Commission. Edmonds says that she heard of the payments while listening to FBI wiretaps of Turkish officials who were under surveillance by the FBI.

[starroute]

73. Sibel's stuff specifically cites blackmail against Hastert

Here's Brad Friedman in 2009 describing the allegations:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-friedman/fbi-whistleblower-hastert_b_277704.html

Dennis Hastert: "Several categories. The acceptance of large sums of bribery in forms of cash or laundered cash ... to make it look legal for his campaigns, and also for his personal use, in order to do certain favors ... make certain things happen for foreign entities and foreign governments' interests, Turkish government's interest and Turkish business entities' interests. ... other activities, too, including being blackmailed for various reasons. ... he used the townhouse that was not his residence for certain not very morally accepted activities. ... foreign entities knew about this, in fact, they sometimes participated in some of those not maybe morally well activities in that particular townhouse that was supposed to be an office, not a house, residence at certain hours, certain days, evenings of the week."

[KoKo]

87. Thanks for the Mind Jog on this "Starroute."

Could justice finally be coming after all this time for Sibel's revelations....?

[Historic NY]

34. Interesting long term acquaintance.....

for misconduct that occurred years earlier. Very Interesting.

[tabasco]

35. Wrestling coach, eh?

Wonder where this is going.

[Major Nikon]

38. In the immortal words of Nelson...

[undeterred]

39. Making Illinois proud.

[SoapBox]

41. I didn't even know he was still alive.

Only 73? That surprises me...seems like he's been gone forever.

[Stuart G]

45. Do you think the whole story will emerge?

Like who was he paying off, and why? Did he do something in return for those payments? Was that legal?...

Let's wait for the next installment of.....

...When the Hastert turns, around, and around and around...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

48. Don't forget the Foley page scandal and Hastert's role: "willfully ignorant"

In a December 2006, the House Ethics Committee determined that Hastert and other congressional leaders were "willfully ignorant" in responding to early warnings of the Mark Foley congressional page scandal, but did not violate any House rules.[19][20]

-- Wikipedia

Kind of plays into the speculation about sexual misconduct from his years as wrestling and football coach?

[virtualobserver]

58. how long before Fox identifies Him as (D) Denny Hastert

......as they always do, inadvertently.

[SunSeeker]

96. LOL. Yup. And the MSM just says he was "Speaker" without naming his party. nt

[Raster]

107. Done!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026744992

[Sienna86]

62. Scott Palmer, former Chief of Staff?

There were rumors back in 2006.

[MADem]

74. I think this is a relationship that predated Scott. It may have even predated his marriage in 73

They lived together, Hastert and Palmer. Scott may have even served as a fixer, keeping people 'in line,' preventing any leaks or tragedies ... who knows?

The Hastert marriage was kind of strange (I guess they are still together, on paper, anyway) --they did not spend much time together, when she came to DC she stayed in a hotel, even though he had a good sized house in a convenient location. Odd.

http://marriage.about.com/od/politics/p/dennishastert.htm

What's so unusual about this situation is that he was an accidental speaker. It should have been LIVINGSTON, but he was scandal-plagued and had to back out! Then, he resigned...and here's the kicker--you know who replaced him? David "Diaper Boy" Vitter!!!!

I mean, damn...! So many scandals, so little time....

[lpbk2713]

63. Candid photo of Hastert handing hush money check to go-between.

[Baitball Blogger]

64. That took long enough.

We knew he was crooked when he was speaker of the house.

[Cha]

80. Ewwww.. remember when we all hated him!

[Jamastiene]

82. Now?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

86. Heard about this in the car on NPR.

[Catherine Vincent]

89. Paying someone over $3 million dollars to keep quiet?

Mr. Hastert...

[JoeOtterbein]

91. How will this effect the GOP chances in '16?

(If it was a former DEM power-broker

24/7 for at least a week until everyone, including republicans, beg for it to stop.

[rpannier]

92. Amazing

If I understood correctly, he withdrew about 1.7 mill at less than 10k a pop

That's a hell of a lot of withdrawals

[Raster]

93. What I want to know is how the hell did a former school teach and wrestling coach...

...accumulate that kind of wealth?

I know, the question is somewhat rhetorical.

[hedda_foil]

97. Nailed it, Raster.

[MADem]

102. He wiggled his way into Congress and became the Speaker of the House.

Then he became a lobbyist!

[LanternWaste]

112. After the required six month waiting period, he first joined lobbying groups

After the required six month waiting period, he first joined lobbying groups, and then started one of his own. There's some pretty good money in that.

[gvstn]

99. Originally

It was $50,000 every 6 weeks for two years (which probably is what got him flagged). Then it was $100,000 every 3 months, which is when he started doing the $10,000 at a time thing.

Nobody has mentioned this but I think the Feds monitor all large cash transactions even under $10,000 because they know a lot of people would just take out a couple of $9000 if they wanted to attempt to stay of the radar.

[KinMd]

95. Person A could be arrested also

[Sienna86]

104. But Hastert would refuse to cooperate if he wants to keep matter secret. nt

[Grins]

105. So when do you think we'll get the first Reich-wingnut email....?

So when do you think we'll get first Reich-wingnut email from their Noise and Rage Factory™ telling me how Hillary/Obama forced the new attorney general to go after Hastert in order to divert our attention from Benghazi, the Mooslims, abortion factories, forbidding prayer in schools, immigration, the IRS, and/or destroying the Constitution to bring the United States under the Caliphate, and to make Sharia the supreme law of the land. Huh? Huh?

Note: If they can blame Baltimore/Ferguson/tornadoes/etc. on Obamacare or lack of prayer, you just KNOW one is coming.

[KG]

106. FIFA officials and washed up politicos.

low hanging fruit, when the real financial criminals are buying second super yachts

[lebkuchen]

109. My guess, for the record

pedophilia.

[maindawg]

111. Gay pedophilia

The entire leadership of the GOP are so twisted that they have morphed into a cartoon. Reality so bizarre its mind numbing. It unbelievable to the point that it goes full circle to a new reality where up is down.
Its ok to be a child molester but if your sexuality does not meet what some RWNJ considers what his version of jis god would approve thats bad and they think our country was based on that same non existent imaginary god thing they believe in. They are crazy and they are in charge of our nation !
Now this discusting old pervert who still sucks us for millions of our tax dollars running his racquet will
probably be praised for being a great man by the other criminals who are the leaders of our country .

[Tikki]

110. Why "Individual A" instead of just "an individual" Is there an "Individual B"or more?

Tikki

[babylonsister]

118. Right now, rumor has it there may have been

more than one kid he was involved with.

[Fearless]

113. *Surprise!*

[Tarc]

114. So Denny Hastert pulled a Sandusky?

Not surprised.

[Fearless]

115. Let me guess... cheated on his wife with a guy?

[mackerel]

117. and they all knew... the whole GOP

http://www.infowars.com/flashback-investigative-journalist-broke-ex-speaker-hastert-blackmail-sex-scandal-in-2006/