CHICAGO (Diya TV) — Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker of the U.S. House who later admitted sexually abusing teenage boys and served prison time for a related financial crime, died Saturday at his Illinois home.
Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell said Hastert died of natural causes while receiving hospice care. He was eighty-four.
Hastert led the House from the late Clinton administration through most of President George W. Bush’s presidency. He helped advance Bush’s legislative agenda, including tax cuts and the expansion of Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Republicans selected him to succeed Newt Gingrich as speaker. He held the position until Democrats regained control of the House and left Congress later that year.
Before entering politics, Hastert taught history and coached wrestling at Yorkville High School. He subsequently served in the Illinois House and won election to Congress.
Federal investigators later examined cash withdrawals Hastert made to pay a former student to conceal sexual abuse. He pleaded guilty to structuring withdrawals to evade federal financial reporting requirements.
Prosecutors said Hastert had sexually abused at least four boys during his coaching career. The statute of limitations prevented authorities from prosecuting the abuse, so the criminal case focused on his banking conduct.
At sentencing, Hastert acknowledged abusing a former athlete.
“What I did was wrong and I regret it,” he told the court.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin sentenced him to fifteen months in federal prison. Hastert served more than a year.
Born in Aurora, Illinois, Hastert earned degrees from Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons.
