Hastert Cops Plea
The Chicago Tribune reports that
Lawyers for Dennis Hastert said Thursday they have reached a deal with prosecutors for the former U.S. House speaker to plead guilty to charges he agreed to make $3.5 million in hush-money payments to cover up wrongdoing from years ago.
Both sides appeared at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin.
The plea negotiations were revealed in a hearing late last month when John Gallo, one of Hastert’s attorneys, said the defense had been discussing with federal prosecutors a possible resolution to the case short of a trial — a signal to a possible guilty plea. At the time, Gallo called the talks “productive.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block confirmed for the judge that talks on a plea deal were ongoing and asked that the two sides be given additional time for the discussions.
The “wrongdoings” are reportedly sexual misconduct by Hastert involving a male high school student on a wrestling team of which Hastert was coach. At least two former students have claimed Hastert engaged in sexual activities with them.
Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
5 responses to Hastert Cops Plea
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Larry Schmitt October 15th, 2015 at 10:52
I wonder if the deal will include a provision that he can’t be prosecuted for the “wrongdoing.”
rg9rts October 15th, 2015 at 11:44
Another Gopee family values pillar of the community shows his true colors and cops a plea
robert October 15th, 2015 at 14:36
so jopa has a brother and now the feds know all about it.
good luck Mr. speaker !
Robert Kennedy October 15th, 2015 at 15:02
Another in a long line of terrible Republicans who have held major spots in their party. It seems like normal decent people have no place in the party of NO!
Allison Renée Alworth October 15th, 2015 at 21:36
It seems like they’re the party of No on all the wrong things, and the party of Yes on all the really wrong things – this guy is just the latest in a long line of “Yes” men.