Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who later admitted to sexual abuse, dead at 84

WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who later admitted to sexually abusing children while a high school wrestling coach before entering politics, died over the weekend at his home in the Chicago area.He was 84.Hastert (R-Ill.) served for 20 years in the House of Representatives and presided over the chamber during the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the October 2001 anthrax crisis, when envelopes of the deadly powder were sent to Capitol Hill offices.He resigned in November 2007.In 2013, the FBI began investigating suspicious cash withdrawals by Hastert, including payments totalling $3.5 million to someone known only as “Individual A”.In 2014, Hastert was indicted by a grand jury on charges of making false statements to investigators and unlawfully arranging withdrawals to evade bank reporting requirements.In 2015, it emerged that “Individual A” had accused Hastert of sexually abusing him while a student at Yorkville High School in the Chicago suburbs.Federal prosecutors ultimately alleged Hastert had molested at least four boys and was paying them hush money.

He was never charged with sexual abuse, as the statute of limitations had expired.The former speaker pled guilty and admitted at his sentencing hearing that he had molested boys during his time as a coach.He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, ordered to undergo sex-offender treatment, serve two years of supervised release and pay a $250,000 fine.Hastert served 13 months of his sentence and was released in July 2017....