Are you thinking what I'm thinking about Dennis Hastert (R)?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

We don’t know — we may never know — what former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert did that was so bad, if anything. What we do know: Prosecutors say he was willing to pay $3.5 million to cover it up. The former lawmaker was indicted this week on charges that he lied to the FBI and tried to disguise cash withdrawals paid to an unnamed party identified only as “Individual A” to “compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct against Individual A.” Hastert’s “prior misconduct” was not explained.

While “the indictment did not spell out the exact nature of the ‘prior misconduct’ by Hastert,” The Washington Post reported, “… it noted that before entering state and federal politics in 1981, Has­tert served for more than a decade as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois.”



The indictment’s allusion to Hastert’s tenure as a wrestling coach and teacher was provocative. So was its reference to Individual A. Individual A claimed to have known Hastert “most of” his or her life. Individual A met with Hastert repeatedly “in or about 2010? and “discussed past misconduct” by Hastert against him or her that “had occurred years earlier.” And, allegedly, Hastert paid Individual A off.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/29/jaw-dropping-dennis-hastert-indictment-stirs-deeper-mystery/

[CTyankee]

1. Yes, and it's sad...

the man has been haunted by this for a very long time. You can't help but feel some pity for the guy's family who, through no fault of their own, are going to be dragged through the mill with him.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I realize the inherent problem with making assumptions.

But we do know the blackmail stems from the time he was a high school and wrestling coach and the person doing the blackmail knew him at that time.

[CTyankee]

5. Lynn Sweet said that indictments that mention such details such as the coaching do so

"for a reason." So she said it was a big factor in this case.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I don't believe he would have paid 3.7 m to hide the fact he was stealing school supplies./NT

[CTyankee]

7. that eraser was just one theft too many...

[malaise]

19. He didn't think it was sad

when they were impeaching Bill Clinton - fugg 'em - not one iota of sympathy here.

[freshwest]

24. +1!

[Tom Ripley]

25. +1000

[HERVEPA]

26. Geez. This is the second time in a month I agree with malaise.

[Person 2713]

29. Thank you

[malaise]

35. You're welcome

and welcome to DU

[lamp_shade]

2. Yup.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. "We don’t know,we may never know what former U.S. House speaker Dennis Hastert did that was so bad."

I am pretty confident we are going to find out.

[NJCher]

8. yep

$3.7 million and it still comes out.

What's that saying about truth?

Cher

[greymattermom]

9. Should have taken some advice from Jim Bob

The statute of limitations has run out by now.

[CTyankee]

10. So I figure that it's really that he didn't want to endanger his lucrative lobbying career...

it would be all over if brought to light. Also, the embarrassment of his family would be pretty difficult since I will bet they were unaware of the problem.

[Zen Democrat]

11. It has to be a sex charge, doesn't it. Nothing else makes sense.

By the way, where did this former high school teacher and wrestling coach get millions to pay hush money? Ill-gotten gains.

[CTyankee]

13. And that is the danger now lurking for him...just who was lining his pockets and what

for? Another can or two of worms to be opened...

This is a double disaster for Hastert...

[LordGlenconner]

28. More likely he was diddling teenage boys

If i had to bet, that's what my money would be on.

[Orrex]

12. He was great as the driver in the film "Heat."

[fadedrose]

14. I think blackmailers should be jailed

To know of some crime and not report it is being guilty of the crime. If the victim of the blackmail reports it to authorities, the cops should respect the motives, if one of them is contrition, things might not go so bad.

There are bad cops, but there are very good ones too. I feel for Hastert no matter what he did because the threat of exposure has been punishing enough.

I hope the blackmailer gets worse treatment from the law than Hastert.

[Whiskeytide]

15. I agree blackmailers should be...

... prosecuted. But we don't really know this was blackmail. If Hastert harmed or damaged individual A in some way years ago, this could be a settlement of a potential lawsuit. If it turns out to be a situation similar to the Sandusky offenses, I'd be more inclined to see IA as a victim.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. My compassion will be a function of the severity of what he was paying to keep quiet for./NT

[MohRokTah]

16. We will probably know eventually.

Individual A will probably be indicted for blackmail.

And yes, inferences seem to point to misconduct while a wrestling coach.

[Stainless]

17. Fathered child with female student......

According to person who lived in same town. Called in to Stephanie Miller Show a few minutes ago. Plausible rumor!

[CTyankee]

18. I'm sad for the child and its mother...

[CTyankee]

33. possible then that he was paying for the child and the mother in addition to blackmail...

[Nye Bevan]

21. Maybe he bet illegally on wrestling matches?

Or worse, fixed the outcome of wrestling matches that he had bet on?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. That's it...I would gladly pay $3,700, 000.00 to cover that up./NT

[snooper2]

23. And zero fucks would be given if that was the case-

More than likely it was sexual in nature-

[libdem4life]

27. Maybe he was a closet soccer player. Timing is everything, you know.

[Politicalboi]

30. This story isn't new

There were rumors of Diddling Dennis a few years ago, then it disappeared. So glad it's come back.

[lonestarnot]

31. Speculation can be worse than the truth and if he doesn't come up with it,

I'm for making shit up! Is he in the basement yet?

[Kelvin Mace]

32. My old mentor called me last night

and started off the conversation "How did you know? How did you know about it all those years ago?"

He was referring to a conversation we had back in 2006 about Hastert and his handling of the Foley scandal. I didn't recall the conversation until reminded, but I hand noted that Haster's handling of the matter was highly suspicious to me in how he bent over backwards to excuse Foley's conduct and shield him. My remark was to the effect that Hastert struck me is a fellow traveller, and as he had been a wresting coach, I would not be surprised if he had been "molesting boys" back in his day because that was the vibe I got from him.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

34. BOOM

[malaise]

36. As in

NAILED IT!!!!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. It wasn't very hard, Malaise.

We knew it dated back to the time he was a high school teacher and wrestling coach and the person doing the blackmailing to the tune of 3.7 m was somebody who knew him at the time.

I feel bad for the victim. I am ambivalent about Hastert but I am happy the Republicants are getting it in the ear.

[malaise]

38. Like you I feel very sorry for the victim

but I'm celebrating this ReTHUG scumbag's fall from his sanctimonious perch.

[CK_John]

39. IMO, this goes deeper with lobbing for foreign governments may send him

and others to Club Fed.

I think the FBI have flipped him or someone else. I hope some others are not sleeping so good.