Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican House speaker in congressional history whose political legacy was later dismantled by convictions related to the sexual abuse of high school athletes, has died at the age of 84. According to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell, Hastert passed away on Saturday of natural causes at his home while receiving hospice care. Hastert served as speaker from 1999 until 2007. In 2016, the former history teacher and wrestling coach was sentenced to more than a year behind bars, making him one of the highest-ranking American politicians ever ordered to prison. Rising from a little-known Illinois lawmaker, Hastert ascended to the speakership after Newt Gingrich lost support due to ethics violations and poor election showings. During his tenure, he presided over the House during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton and helped pass President George W. Bush’s legislative agenda, including major tax cuts and a significant expansion of Medicare prescription drug benefits. Hastert’s legacy collapsed in 2015 when he was accused of evading banking regulations as part of a scheme to pay hush money to conceal prior misconduct. Prosecutors later revealed that Hastert had sexually abused teenage boys on his wrestling team in Yorkville, Illinois, between 1965 and 1981. During his sentencing hearing, a federal judge labeled Hastert a serial child molester after prosecutors detailed abuse against at least four team members. Hastert agreed to plead guilty to evading banking laws, admitting in a statement that he was deeply ashamed and had mistreated some of his athletes. Following his indictment, institutions stripped his name from facilities, and his official portrait was removed from the Capitol. Hastert is survived by his wife, Jean, and two adult sons.
Source: npr.org
