US: Former House Speaker Hastert sentenced to more than year in prison

[webfact]

Former speaker Hastert sentenced to more than year in prison
By MICHAEL TARM

CHICAGO (AP) — Dennis Hastert, the Republican who for eight years presided over the House and was second in the line of succession to the presidency, was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in prison in the hush-money case that revealed accusations he sexually abused teenagers while coaching high school wrestling.

The case makes the former speaker one of the highest-ranking American politicians ever sentenced to prison. The visibly angry judge repeatedly rebuked the 74-year-old before issuing the 15-month sentence, telling him that his abuse devastated the lives of victims and would probably make it harder than ever for parents to trust other adults with their children.

"If Denny Hastert could do it, anyone could do it,'" U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin said. "Nothing is more stunning than to have the words 'serial child molester' and 'speaker of the House' in the same sentence."

As he did for much of the hearing, Hastert sat unmoving in a wheelchair, peering over the top of his eyeglasses, his hands folded before him.

Earlier this month, prosecutors went into graphic detail about the sex-abuse allegations, even describing how Hastert would sit in a recliner in the locker room with a direct view of the showers. The victims, prosecutors said, were boys between 14 and 17. Hastert was in his 20s and 30s.

When the judge asked if Hastert wanted to make a statement, Hastert pushed himself up, grabbed a walker and moved slowly to a podium.

"I am deeply ashamed to be standing here," he said, reading from a statement. "I know why I am here ... I mistreated some of the athletes that I coached."

He added: "They looked up to me, and I took advantage of them."

Hastert pleaded guilty last fall to violating banking law as he sought to pay $3.5 million to someone referred to in court papers only as Individual A to keep the sex abuse secret.

The judge devoted many of his remarks to describing how Hastert lied to FBI agents when they first approached him about the massive cash withdrawals. Hastert told investigators that Individual A was making a bogus claim of sex abuse to extort him for money.

"Accusing Individual A of extortion was unconscionable," Durkin said. "He was a victim (of abuse) decades ago and you tried to make him a victim again."

Prosecutors have described the payments as something akin to an out-of-court settlement. Individual A wanted to bring in lawyers and put the agreement in writing, but it was Hastert, authorities said, who refused to involve anyone else.

Hastert, the judge said, thought he could use his elevated status to make federal investigators believe his lie.

"If he had told the truth, I'm not sure we would be here today," Durkin said about Hastert. "Instead, you lied and here we are."

While the maximum sentence available for the banking violation was five years in prison, federal guidelines recommended probation to six months in prison. Judges rarely go outside the guidelines and usually do so only when the behavior underlying the crime — in this case sex abuse — is especially egregious.

In addition to the prison term, the judge also ordered Hastert to undergo sex-offender treatment, spend two years on supervised release from prison and pay a $250,000 fine to a crime victims' fund.

Authorities say Hastert abused at least four students throughout his years at Yorkville High School about 45 miles southwest of Chicago. He will report to prison at a later date.

Before Hastert spoke, a former wrestler delivered a statement. Taking a deep breath as he started describing what he called his "dark secret," 53-year-old Scott Cross frequently stopped and struggled to regain his composure. A court official walked up and handed him a box of tissues.

"I looked up to coach Hastert," he said. After Hastert abused him in the locker room, he said: "I was devastated. I felt very alone."

The man, now in his 50s, said he sought professional help and had trouble sleeping as a result of the abuse.

Hastert sat a few feet from the man, turning his head slightly — but never looking directly at him.

In his remarks, the former congressman never referred to sexual abuse. When he stopped reading, the judge asked him directly: Did Hastert, in fact, abuse the wrestler who spoke in court?

"I don't remember that," Hastert responded. "I accept his statement."

Moments before the former wrestler spoke, a woman who says her brother was sexually abused by Hastert told the courtroom that her sibling felt "betrayed, ashamed and embarrassed."

Jolene Burdge said Hastert abused her brother, Stephen Reinboldt, throughout his years at Yorkville High School, where Hastert was a history teacher and coach from 1965 to 1981. Reinboldt died of AIDS in 1995.

"When a man is sexually assaulted, it means they weren't strong enough to fight back," she said. "He wasn't strong enough." She added, "You took his innocence and turned it against him."

She turned toward Hastert and said, "Don't be a coward, Mr. Hastert. Tell the truth."

By helping to reveal the sex abuse, she added, "I hope I have been your worst nightmare."

The judge also asked Hastert directly if he had abused Reinboldt. Hastert first answered: "That was a different situation, sir." After Hastert consulted his lawyer, the judge repeated the question. Hastert paused and said, "Yes."

Defense attorneys were seeking probation on the grounds that Hastert has already paid a high price in disgrace. They also cited his health, saying a blood infection nearly killed him in November and that a stroke has limited his mobility.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block called Hastert's conduct "horrendous." But because of the statute of limitations, he could only be charged with a financial crime related to the payments he was making.

Even though the banking charge was comparatively minor, he said, society was better off now that Hastert had been unmasked.

"The defendant has been exposed for who he is," Block told the court.

Defense attorney Thomas Green alluded several times to Hastert's mental state, saying he was not sure if Hastert fully comprehended what he had done.

"Aspects of Mr. Hastert life have been compartmentalized ... walled off," he said.

He urged the judge to take into consideration the "entire arc" of Hastert's life, including his efforts to seek tougher drug laws. Hastert, he said "is the single most important leader in the fight against drugs."

The attorney noted that 41 letters of support were forwarded to the judge, but dozens of letters were withdrawn after old friends and acquaintances learned they would be put on the public record.

"The withdrawn letters exemplify ... the abandonment" of Hastert, he said.

At the end of the hearing, Durkin paused, looked around the room said the case had been "horrible" for the victims, their families and the nation as whole.

Before standing up and walking away, he said, "I never want to see a case like this again."


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-28

[inbangkok]

Another anti-gay, family values Republican at his finest!

And this vile piece of trash was pushing for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

[mopar71]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

[chuckd]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

[stevenl]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

"It also isn't about a political party"

Since there is one political party that is always shouting 'family values' from the rooftops, these things make it about that political party.

[pitrevie]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

"It also isn't about a political party"

Since there is one political party that is always shouting 'family values' from the rooftops, these things make it about that political party.

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

[Chicog]

I hope his victims sue him for every penny he's got.

[up2u2]

One year?

[LawrenceN]

Yes, one year. The article explains they could only bust him on the financial charge. One year is more than the sentencing guidelines, but less than the maximum in the law. Should it have been more? Evidently the judge didn't think so, maybe because of Hastert's physical state.

[mixed]

Victims of child abuse often end up with addictions. This guy bought in tough drug laws is trying to claim that as an achievement. How ironic.

[wabothai]

One year?

May be so but the rest of his life will be ruined.

[Chicog]

One year?

May be so but the rest of his life will be ruined.

Good!

[facthailand]

It would be hard to find a professional politician who did not deserve prison. How anybody could like The Donald is beyond me but his campaign did come up with that great slogan: "Hillary for Prison!

[Emster23]

Put that POS in with general prison population. Even lowest of those criminals have a moral code, unlike Congressmen, and they tend to administer their own rough justice to those with "short eyes".

[mopar71]

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

"It also isn't about a political party"

Since there is one political party that is always shouting 'family values' from the rooftops, these things make it about that political party.

I was never molested as a kid but if I had been, I don't think I really would give a damn if the pervert was a hypocrite or not.

[mopar71]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

"It also isn't about a political party"

Since there is one political party that is always shouting 'family values' from the rooftops, these things make it about that political party.

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

Edited April 28, 2016 by mopar71

[kamahele]

And that piece of trash Bill Clinton signed that anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act into law in 1996! Yeah, let's make this all about gay people!...NOT.

Hastert is a child-molesting azzhole who deserves worse than he got. It's a shame his victims had to wait until long after he was relevant. Too bad they didn't come forward when this guy first ran for office.

No one is making this "all about gay people". It is the fact that this man and his political party are the party of "family values", meaning the cherry picked values from the old testament, yet they can't help cheating on their wives, abusing children and having sex in public bathrooms.

[stevenl]

Wasn't Clinton a Democrat?

It also isn't about a political party but some can't resist the urge.

"It also isn't about a political party"

Since there is one political party that is always shouting 'family values' from the rooftops, these things make it about that political party.

I was never molested as a kid but if I had been, I don't think I really would give a damn if the pervert was a hypocrite or not.

Deflection is not working.

[pitrevie]

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

It was always about a blow job but they wrapped it up so that it sounded a lot more serious than that.

[chuckd]

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

It was always about a blow job but they wrapped it up so that it sounded a lot more serious than that.

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

Edited April 29, 2016 by chuckd

[up2u2]

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

I have to confess it does infuriate me when these Right Wing Republicans play the holier than though preaching family values and anti abortion, gay rights, sex education and hate speech towards LBGT people to find they are molesting young boys. So very typical.

The Republican Party seems to attract these filthy grubs.

I don't think Bill ever professed to being a godbotherer.

[chuckd]

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

I have to confess it does infuriate me when these Right Wing Republicans play the holier than though preaching family values and anti abortion, gay rights, sex education and hate speech towards LBGT people to find they are molesting young boys. So very typical.

The Republican Party seems to attract these filthy grubs.

I don't think Bill ever professed to being a godbotherer.

And the Democrat Party attracts those with little moral fiber. Welcome to the party.

You need to get some new material. The term "godbotherer" (sic) is already overused in abundance by another prolific poster.

[pitrevie]

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

It was always about a blow job but they wrapped it up so that it sounded a lot more serious than that.

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

And it was all about a blow job not selling missile systems to an enemy power in a flagrant breach of the law. Nor was it lying to the American people resulting in thousands dead and trillions of dollars down the drain.

[up2u2]

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

I have to confess it does infuriate me when these Right Wing Republicans play the holier than though preaching family values and anti abortion, gay rights, sex education and hate speech towards LBGT people to find they are molesting young boys. So very typical.

The Republican Party seems to attract these filthy grubs.

I don't think Bill ever professed to being a godbotherer.

And the Democrat Party attracts those with little moral fiber. Welcome to the party.

You need to get some new material. The term "godbotherer" (sic) is already overused in abundance by another prolific poster.

You understand my point. Right Wingers preach to others all about moral values and family values and they are anti gay and anti sex anti abortion yet being a paedophile and molesting young boys like this grub did seems to be all fine. That type of evil double standards infuriates me. Why does the Republican Party attract these types. Do they hide behind the façade of being righteous? Like Priests did.

[borborygmus]

I agree and wasn't it all three GOP speakers who went after Clinton for having a blow job and all three, Gingrich, Livingston and Hastert demonstrated so well their family values. However no problem all they have to do is announce they are born again and all is forgiven.

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

It was always about a blow job but they wrapped it up so that it sounded a lot more serious than that.

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

Impeachment is supposed to be reserved for high crimes and misdemeanors. Unless you take misdemeanors not to be modified by "high" (so that jaywalking would be impeachable) then what you've got is an impeachment for lying to a civil jury. Most constitutional scholars don't think that qualifies as a high crime. It's important to remember that this whole impeachment thing started about Whitewater. There proved to nothing there. The special prosecutor at the time, Robert Fiske, said the whole thing should be wrapped up. There's nothing here. Then David Sentelle, a very right wing and political judge, a good friend of Jesse Helm, appointed Kenneth Starr to go on a fishing expedition. And that's how the impeachment happened.

[chuckd]

Geez, for the one billionth time it wasn't about a blow job. That's like claiming Charlie Mason has been in prison for 40+ years for smoking weed.

It was always about a blow job but they wrapped it up so that it sounded a lot more serious than that.

It was wrapped up in his own words. Bill is the one that lied under oath, not the federal official he lied to.

Impeachment is supposed to be reserved for high crimes and misdemeanors. Unless you take misdemeanors not to be modified by "high" (so that jaywalking would be impeachable) then what you've got is an impeachment for lying to a civil jury. Most constitutional scholars don't think that qualifies as a high crime. It's important to remember that this whole impeachment thing started about Whitewater. There proved to nothing there. The special prosecutor at the time, Robert Fiske, said the whole thing should be wrapped up. There's nothing here. Then David Sentelle, a very right wing and political judge, a good friend of Jesse Helm, appointed Kenneth Starr to go on a fishing expedition. And that's how the impeachment happened.

"Impeachment is supposed to be reserved for high crimes and misdemeanors."

Impeachment is reserved for "high crimes and misdemeanors", as well as treason and bribery.

Now what you need to do is learn exactly what constitutes "high crimes and misdemeanors".

Since you can't remove the word "high" from the discussion, you should know the word denotes those officials that are in "high" positions of authority and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the seriousness of a crime...or misdemeanor.

And, yes, jaywalking could be an impeachable offense if Congress deemed it so. Your analogy is stupid.

These links will help explain the impeachment process to you.

http://www.crf-usa.org/impeachment/high-crimes-and-misdemeanors.html

http://www.constitution.org/cmt/high_crimes.htm

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The remainder of your post is disingenuous but off topic. Your blaming of Judge Sentelle is short of the fact that it was actually a three judge panel of the DC Circuit Court of Appeals that appointed Starr. Sentelle was one of the three. Of course he was friends with Senator Helms. They were both from North Carolina and powerful political figures within the state.

[chuckd]

I have to confess it does infuriate me when these Right Wing Republicans play the holier than though preaching family values and anti abortion, gay rights, sex education and hate speech towards LBGT people to find they are molesting young boys. So very typical.

The Republican Party seems to attract these filthy grubs.

I don't think Bill ever professed to being a godbotherer.

And the Democrat Party attracts those with little moral fiber. Welcome to the party.

You need to get some new material. The term "godbotherer" (sic) is already overused in abundance by another prolific poster.

You understand my point. Right Wingers preach to others all about moral values and family values and they are anti gay and anti sex anti abortion yet being a paedophile and molesting young boys like this grub did seems to be all fine. That type of evil double standards infuriates me. Why does the Republican Party attract these types. Do they hide behind the façade of being righteous? Like Priests did.

You really need to catch up...or stop posting about matters which you know little about.

BOTH parties have their very own special sort of "grubs". Your attempt to make it all a Republican failure is, like many of your posts, far from being factual.

Provided below are two links that will help you, and the other members, with some facts.

The first one is purely Democrats that have been involved in sexual scandals. It lists 49 such persons but seems to have stopped counting in 2011.

http://www.conservative21.com/Media/The_List.txt

The second one is a study of 63 sexual escapades by members of both parties and breaks them down into interesting categories.

The article has this to say:

• Republicans have more scandals (35 to 28), but Democrats have bigger ones, based on our methodology (13 out of the top 20).

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/03/30/which-party-has-more-sex-scandals.html

And, yes, I do get your point about the Republican Party preaching family values and then some members backsliding. What amazes me is why you aren't outraged that the Democrats don't seem to care one bit about family values.