Dennis Hastert, the Illinois Republican who rose to become Speaker of the House and later saw his political legacy undone by revelations of sexual abuse during his years as a high school wrestling coach, has died. He was 84.
The Kendall County Coroner's Office reported that Hastert died over the weekend at his home in the Chicago area. The cause was natural causes, according to the coroner's office. No further details about his death have been made public.
Hastert spent twenty years representing Illinois in Congress and took the Speaker's gavel in 1999. He went on to hold the position for four terms, making him the longest-serving Republican Speaker at that point in history.
Years after he left Washington, however, federal investigators examining substantial cash withdrawals uncovered a $3.5 million payment agreement between Hastert and a person referred to in court records as "Individual A." Prosecutors alleged the payments were intended to conceal sexual abuse allegations.
Because the statute of limitations had run out, Hastert did not face sexual abuse charges. He did plead guilty to a banking violation and received a sentence of 15 months in federal prison in 2016.
During the sentencing proceedings, prosecutors stated that Hastert had abused at least four students while he was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School. The presiding judge commented on the striking disparity between Hastert's former office and the allegations brought against him.
After completing his prison term, Hastert underwent sex-offender treatment and was placed on supervised release.
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Ava Hart
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