Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Has Been Accused of Sexually Abusing 4 People

Impact

Chicago Tribune investigation revealed Thursday at least four allegations of sexual abuse against former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. According to the Tribune, the accusations were part of Hastert's federal court case in October, when he pleaded guilty to violating federal banking laws and lying to the FBI. 

The Washington Post previously reported that Hastert had strategically withdrawn small money to avoid mandatory reporting requirements and had given someone hush money to cover-up a "decades-old misconduct secret." 

The Tribune report has now uncovered that Hastert's motivation for the sketchy bank deals date back to his years as a high school teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Chicago. 

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Though there are four accusations, all of which law enforcement officials have deemed "credible," the Tribune has so far only confirmed the identity of three of the alleged victims, all men who claim to have experienced the abuse as teenagers when Hastert was their coach.

One of the individuals received $1.7 million from Hastert between 2010 and 2014; another declined to talk to the Tribune for their investigation and the third alleged victim is deceased. 

In his comments to the Tribune, Hastert's attorney, Tom Green, didn't reference the alleged sexual abuse explicitly, but spoke broadly to Hastert's remorse for his wrongdoings. "He fully understands the gravity of his misconduct decades ago and regrets that he resorted to ... an effort to prevent the disclosure of that misconduct," Green said.