A thought just occurred to me. Isn't it illegal to receive blackmail/hush money? Will TPTB go after

[Mnemosyne]

the recipient of the money Hastert paid to keep their mouth shut? I would put nothing past these bastards. Damn, I hope not.

This smug fucking creep needs to go down hard. How many young lives has he hurt or destroyed over the years?

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. I don't know about 'receiving it', but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to blackmail folks, even slimy

ones like Hastert.

[Mnemosyne]

3. The question would maybe be, did Hastert offer the money or was he asked for it?

This will come out sooner or later, especially with him playing the victim card.

[malaise]

2. They say NO

because this wasn't really hush money - it was an arrangement

[Mnemosyne]

4. Guess it isn't working out quite like that hypocrite pos hoped!

[Exilednight]

5. This is where it gets weird. People are paid all the time

To not press charges, testify or pursue civil action - providing they don't interfere with an investigation by law enforcement. They are usually worded by the press in the following manner: company X has paid person Y an undisclosed amount while admitting no wrong doing.

Only in America do we thump our chest about how fair we are while making blackmailing and bribing illegal.

[Mnemosyne]

6. This is just going to get more interesting as it plays out. I'm sad for the kids that will never

speak out. What he did is just unforgivable. He's using being blackmailed to make him the 'victim'. Disgusting POS.

[brer cat]

7. I'm with you, Mnemoyne.

We will never know if there were other victims who won't/can't speak out. It is unforgivable, especially since he was in a position of authority and trust.

[HooptieWagon]

8. There was a second who came forward.

There's undoubtedly more.

[Exilednight]

10. Maybe, maybe not. If authorities conduct an official investigation, then any agreement

Becomes null and void when testifying. On the flip side, authorities may find out, but not disclose the information if they can not find any wrongdoing.

[HooptieWagon]

9. It depends.

Blackmail is illegal. "Hush money" not so much, if both parties agree to it. It would be hard to prove. However, the victim could be charged with tax evasion if he didn't declare the payments.

[Mnemosyne]

11. Thanks Hooptie! Oh what a tangled web... nt