Dennis Hastert a ‘serial child molester,’ judge says at hush-money sentencing

Dennis Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison Wednesday in a hush-money case that centered on accusations that he sexually abused at least four students when he was a Yorkville High School wrestling coach, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Judge Thomas M. Durkin also announced that the former U.S. Speaker of the House must undergo sex offender treatment, serve two years of supervised release after his time behind bars and pay a $250,000 fine to go to a crime victims’ fund, the AP reported.

Hastert, 74, arrived at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago early Wednesday and was photographed being wheeled into the courthouse entrance by his son Ethan.

In explaining his punishment, the judge called Hastert a “serial child molester” and described as “unconscionable” his attempt to accuse one of the victims of extortion, the AP reported.

Hastert becomes one of the highest-ranking politicians in American history to be sentenced to prison. He pleaded guilty last fall to violating banking laws as he sought to pay $3.5 million to someone referred to in court papers only as Individual A to keep the sex abuse secret, according to the AP.

Earlier in the hearing, the AP noted, Scott Cross, a former Yorkville High School student and brother of former Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross, said he was molested by Hastert decades ago and told the courtroom that he was “devastated” by the abuse.

Scott Cross, now in his 50s, said Hastert abused him while they were alone in a locker room, the AP reported. He struggled to hold back tears as he described the incident in detail. In the years since, he said, he sought professional help and had trouble sleeping. Cross said the memory still causes him pain, according to the AP.

Scott Cross told the AP he ultimately decided to go public about the abuse after Hastert reached out to his brother for a letter of support.

In his own statement, Hastert admitted that he “mistreated” some of his YHS athletes and said he was “deeply ashamed.”

“I am sorry to those I hurt and misled,” Hastert said. “What I did was wrong and I regret it.”

When the judge asked whether he sexually abused one wrestler specifically, Hastert said yes, the AP reported.

Tom Cross released a statement Wednesday saying the family is “very proud of Scott for having the courage to relive this very painful part of his life in order to ensure that justice” was done. He added that the family hopes the testimony will encourage other victims of abuse to speak out.

Also at the sentencing hearing, the AP reported, Jolene Burdge said Hastert abused her brother, Stephen Reinboldt, throughout his years at Yorkville High School, where Hastert was a history teacher and coach from 1965 to 1981.

Reinboldt died of AIDS in 1995.

His sister turned toward Hastert and said, “Don’t be a coward ... tell the truth.” The AP also quoted her as saying, “I hope I have been your worst nightmare.”

Hastert left teaching and coaching at YHS in 1981 following his election as a state representative representing the Kendall County area. He was elected to Congress in 1986. He was elected Speaker of the House in December 1998. He left Congress and retired from politics in 2007.