Speaker Hastert Begins Prison Term in Pedophile Scandal
June 2016 - Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), began serving a 15-month prison term this month. He was convicted of illegally structuring banking transactions to keep secret the payment of $3.5 million in hush money.
The money was being paid to at least one of the victims that Mr. Hastert sexually abused decades ago when the victims of his abuse were teenagers and when Mr. Hastert was serving as their high school wrestling coach.
During his sentencing on the banking conviction, Mr. Hastert did finally acknowledge and apologize for having abused multiple students during those years. He cannot face any charges for those past actions, however, since the statutes of limitations for those crimes have run out.
Due to Mr. Hastert's numerous health issues, his attorneys had requested that no prison time be included as part of his sentence. Judge Thomas M. Durkin (brother of Republican state House leader Jim Durkin) disagreed, however, saying:
(Hastert image from ap.com)
"The defendant is a serial child molester…Some actions can obliterate a lifetime of good works. Nothing is more stunning than having 'serial child molester' and 'Speaker of the House' in the same sentence." Durkin added that had Hastert been convicted of abuse, the punishment handed down would have been much worse.
Ironically, Mr. Hastert was elected Speaker of the House in the late 1990's following the ethical and sexual scandals surrounding former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Speaker-designate Bob Livingston (R-La.). Both of his predecessors resigned their positions following publicity of their wrong-doing.
Prior to his conviction, Mr. Hastert's legacy may have related to an informal governing principle within the House of Representative that has come to be known as the "Hastert Rule". It holds that a bill cannot come up for a vote on the House floor unless a majority of the majority party is in favor of it.
This means that, even though a majority of all House members may favor a given piece of legislation, it will not be voted on if a majority of the majority party oppose it.
With a few notable exceptions, Speakers John Boehner (R-Oh.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) have continued employing the Hastert Rule. Many political scientists believe this "rule" precludes compromise and is a major source of the Congressional gridlock that Congress has exhibited during the years the Republicans have been in control of the House.
(Hastert as Speaker - image from fox2now.com)
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