CHICAGO — Dennis Hastert, who served as the U.S. House speaker from 1999 to 2007 and helped enact key legislation for President George W. Bush, died over the weekend at his home. He was 84. According to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell, the cause of death was natural causes.
Hastert was the longest-serving Republican speaker in congressional history. His political legacy, however, was permanently marred by a 2016 conviction for offenses related to the sexual abuse of teenage wrestlers he coached decades earlier. Upon his sentencing, he became one of the most high-ranking American officials ever to receive a prison term.
Rising from relative obscurity in Illinois, Hastert secured the speakership after Newt Gingrich stepped down amid ethics violations and a poor midterm showing for Republicans. Early in his tenure, he presided over the House during the Senate impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. Following the GOP’s regain of the White House, Hastert played a central role in passing significant Republican priorities, including substantial tax cuts and major expansions to Medicare prescription drug coverage.
In 2015, investigations revealed that Hastert had made payments to a man identified only as Individual A to conceal prior misconduct. Prosecutors subsequently disclosed that the misconduct involved the sexual abuse of at least four boys on his wrestling team between 1965 and 1981 in Yorkville, Illinois. Hastert ultimately pleaded guilty to structuring bank transactions to evade reporting laws. He had paid more than $1.7 million of a $3.5 million agreement.
During the 2016 sentencing, the judge denounced Hastert as a “serial child molester.” Hastert expressed shame and admitted to mistreating athletes but did not directly acknowledge sexual abuse in his statement.
A former history teacher and championship-winning wrestling coach, Hastert was known for his congenial demeanor, often referred to as “coach” by colleagues. He stepped down in 2007 when Democrats took control of the House and later worked as a lobbyist. Born in Aurora, Illinois, he leaves behind his wife, Jean, and two sons.
RIP? I’m not sure we should be offering condolences for someone who victimized children.
The fact that he wasn’t charged with the actual abuse crimes feels like a failure of the legal system.
Structuring payments to hide abuse is no different from the abuse itself. Justice was far too lenient.
I was unaware he served this long. A massive gap in my knowledge of Illinois politics.
The contrast between his legislative impact and his crimes is truly disturbing. History never forgets.