Ex- U.S. House Speaker settles child sexual abuse payments suit

[left-of-center2012]

Source: AP

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) and a man who accused him of child sexual abuse reached a tentative out-of-court settlement Wednesday over Hastert’s refusal to pay the man $1.8 million — the outstanding balance in hush money that the Illinois Republican agreed to pay the man in 2010.

The hush-money deal would eventually lead to a federal criminal case against Hastert five years later and to public disgrace for the a GOP stalwart who, for eight years as House speaker, was second in the line of succession to the presidency. In the federal case, prosecutors said Hastert sexually abused at least four male students between the ages of 14 and 17 at Yorkville High School.

Federal prosecutors said during criminal proceedings that the hush-money deal was voluntarily entered into and that the victim never sought to blackmail Hastert that he’d go public about the abuse. The abuse happened when the victim was a high school wrestler and the now 79-year-old Hastert was his coach.

Hastert paid $1.7 million over four years but stopped the payments after the FBI questioned him in 2014 about illegally concealing huge cash withdraws from his bank. After Hastert pleaded guilty to a banking charge and was sentenced to over a year in prion in 2016. He couldn’t be charged with sexual abuse because the statute of limitations had long since run out.

“Nothing is more stunning than to have the words ‘serial child molester’ and ‘speaker of the House’ in the same sentence,” U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin told Hastert.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-sexual-abuse-illinois-dennis-hastert-99160a4428db66e86da8e275e57c8ec7

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This undated file photo provided by the Lake County Sheriff's Department
shows ex-U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
(Lake County Sheriff Department via AP File)

[rpannier]

1. 'serial child molester' and 'speaker of the House'

Not surprised in the least
He's a Republikkan

[SheltieLover]

2. What is it with these qpuke gym teachers?

[Traildogbob]

3. The Hastert rule*

GQP are all child sexual abusers

[Ligyron]

4. Predators seem to favor becoming a wrestling coach.

“Here son, let me show you some interesting holds“.

[underpants]

5. Scum

[llmart]

6. Ugh.

Time has not been kind to him. He's as ugly on the inside as he is on the outside.

Hey, Gym Jordan. Take a look. This is your future.

[Comfortably_Numb]

7. RIP Bartcop!!! He always referred to Hastert as the "sweaty wrestler."

Molester, (R), and I know, I repeat myself…..the (R) goes without saying…

[keithbvadu2]

8. Dennis Hastert set up a comfortable chair in the boys' shower room for his viewing pleasure.

Dennis Hastert set up a comfortable chair in the boys' shower room for his viewing pleasure.

[IronLionZion]

9. Qanon wasn't around back then to catch him

but they probably have good excuses for missing all the current GOP child predators

[LeftInTX]

10. It took this long? I had forgotten all about him.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Did 'what' take this long?

Did you read the article?

This is just the latest development.

[LudwigPastorius]

11. He only served 13 months in prison.

He should have died there!

[Lulu KC]

13. Random Facts Girl on Twitter

Last edited Thu Sep 16, 2021, 11:41 AM - Edit history (1)

--is all about Dennis Hastert, and carries his story into some interesting connections from the last 20+ years. I think she's from his district and there is a connection. According to her, his crimes extend beyond the heinous sexual molestation of this John Doe and others (for which, of course he was not convicted). The other crimes are not pretty.

She is also very big on the SmartTech 2004 election problem.

Her handle is @soychicka. Enjoy, if you're into this sort of thing!