Monkeybs

From Dennis Hastert, once the longest‑serving Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, saw his reputation collapse in a scandal that reached far beyond financial charges. In 2015 he pleaded guilty to structuring bank withdrawals — a felony — after withdrawing large sums of cash in a scheme prosecutors said was meant to conceal past misconduct. Those withdrawals were linked to payments totaling millions aimed at keeping a man identified in court as “Individual A” from disclosing Hastert’s s*xual abuse of him as a boy. 

Prosecutors revealed that Hastert s*xually m*lested at least four boys while he was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois from 1965 to 1981, including unwanted touching in locker rooms and motel rooms. The federal judge at sentencing called him a “serial child m*lester.” 

Despite these revelations, Hastert received dozens of letters from Republican figures asking a federal judge to show leniency. Among those who signed public letters were former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who wrote Hastert was a man of “great integrity” and “a good man that loves the Lord”; former Republican Reps. Thomas Ewing, David Dreier, Porter Goss (a former CIA director), and John Doolittle. Support also came from former Illinois Attorney General Tyrone Fahner and other local leaders and associates. 

Hastert’s career had also included advocacy for conservative social policies: he supported displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools, endorsed school Bible study programs, and backed a constitutional amendment to ban same‑s*x marriage nationwide. His legacy is now deeply intertwined with both his political influence and the profound harm he inflicted on survivors.