Former House speaker Hastert pleads not guilty
Indicted in alleged hush money scandal.
Former House speaker Dennis Hastert, in his first public appearance since being indicted in an alleged hush money scandal, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges that he lied to the FBI and illegally structured bank withdrawals to pay off a former associate for misconduct that is believed to have occurred decades ago.
Hastert navigated a gantlet of news crews outside the federal courthouse here to enter his plea and break a nearly two-week silence since prosecutors unveiled allegations that the 73-year-old former speaker agreed to pay nearly $3.5 million to a person identified in court documents as “Individual A,” someone Hastert has known for most of the person’s life.
The misconduct in the indictment was not specified, but a federal law enforcement official has told USA TODAY that the activity was sexual in nature and involved a young man Hastert knew during his tenure as a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School, a small town west of Chicago where Hastert once served as a wrestling coach and teacher. Prosecutors allege the person was paid $1.7 million before the charges were made public.
Hastert’s arrival touched off a news media frenzy, requiring the political icon to weave his way to the courthouse door. Other than recording a plea, entered by Hastert’s legal team, the brief hearing revealed nothing more about the charges, including the identity of the person who allegedly received the payments.
Noted white-collar defense attorney Thomas Green is serving as Hastert’s lead counsel, and his local counsel is John Gallo, according to court documents filed on Monday. Both lawyers come from the Chicago-headquartered firm Sidley Austin.
Green, based in Washington, D.C., represented former assistant attorney general Robert Mardian during Watergate, and retired major general Richard Secord during the Iran-Contra affair.
The former Republican lawmaker appeared before Judge Thomas Durkin, who has made a total of $1,500 in campaign donations in 2002 and 2004 to Hastert. Durkin, appointed to the federal bench by President Obama in 2012, acknowledged the contributions in open court. He also disclosed past working associations with one of Hastert’s sons.
“I have no doubt I can be impartial in this matter,” he said.