Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker in U.S. history whose political legacy was later shattered by revelations of sexual abuse, has died at the age of 84.
Hastert died of natural causes at his home in Illinois over the weekend, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell. He had been under hospice care before his death.
The Illinois Republican served in the House of Representatives for two decades, from 1987 until 2007. He became speaker in 1999 and remained in the position until Democrats took control of the chamber following the 2006 midterm elections.
Hastert initially emerged as an unexpected choice for speaker after Newt Gingrich stepped aside and Rep. Bob Livingston withdrew from consideration. Hastert ultimately spent eight years leading the chamber, making him the longest-serving Republican House speaker in American history.
His tenure included some of the most consequential events of the early 2000s. Hastert led the House during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the anthrax attacks that followed, while working closely with President George W. Bush to advance the administration’s legislative agenda.
After leaving Congress, Hastert became a lobbyist and consultant. His reputation dramatically unraveled years later when federal investigators began examining suspicious cash withdrawals connected to payments he was making to conceal past misconduct.
Federal authorities discovered that Hastert had agreed to pay $3.5 million to an individual who accused him of sexual abuse dating back to Hastert’s years as a high school wrestling coach in Yorkville, Illinois. Prosecutors ultimately said Hastert had sexually abused at least four boys while working as a teacher and coach.
Hastert was indicted in 2015 for structuring cash withdrawals to avoid federal bank reporting requirements and lying to investigators. He later pleaded guilty to violating federal banking laws.
During his 2016 sentencing hearing, Hastert admitted that he had sexually abused boys decades earlier. He was not prosecuted for the underlying abuse because the applicable statutes of limitations had expired.
A federal judge sentenced Hastert to 15 months in prison, ordered him to participate in sex-offender treatment and imposed a $250,000 fine. He ultimately served approximately 13 months before being released in July 2017.
The revelations transformed Hastert’s public legacy from that of a powerful congressional leader to one dominated by the abuse he admitted committing before entering national politics. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons.
The post Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Dead at 84 appeared first on Real News Now.
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