The longest serving Republican Speaker of the House will plead guilty to dodging banking laws and lying to federal investigators in a case stemming from accusations he molested a male student when he was a high school wrestling coach and paid the student to remain quiet.
Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican who served as speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007, was charged in May. Prosecutors said the allegations stemmed from bank officials’ inquiries over multiple large account withdrawals totaling $1.7 million.
He told investigators that he was keeping the money for himself, according to The New York Times, but was paying the student, who remains unidentified, in exchange for his silence.
Hastert is currently not charged with sexual abuse.
A plea hearing is slated for Oct. 28.
Former GOP House Speaker pleads guilty to lying to investigators, skirting bank laws in molestation case
