The news that former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicated for illegally withdrawing large sums of money from his bank account was shocking enough. But now it turns out that the reason for the withdrawals is even more shocking. Apparently, Hastert, who was a teacher and wrestling coach before entering politics, has been paying hush money to a former male student who claims he was molested by Hastert.
The indictment against Hastert, a Republican, focused on a pattern that seemed designed to skirt federal requirements for reporting exceptionally large withdrawals. The indictment spoke only of Hastert seeking to pay an unnamed, genderless individual as recompense for “prior misconduct.” The indictment claimed that Hastert had agreed to pay “Individual A” the tidy sum of $3.5 million to keep his mouth shut.
While the full story has yet to come out, even the sketchiest information available is pretty juicy. “It was sex,” an unnamed official told the Los Angeles Times. Hastert was a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois from 1965 to 1981. A second man, who did not seek payment from Hastert, apparently told investigators that he was sexually molested by Hastert as well.
The irony is that Hastert’s political career ended when he resigned from Congress in 2007 following a barrage of criticism for slow walking the investigation of fellow Republican Mark Foley for sexting with underage male pages. The news emerging now suggests that Hastert’s sympathy for Foley’s plight might have been personal than anyone could have imagined.
Photo credit: U.S. Congress
Joe Payer
I wish that was me
ChgoReason
Pobrecito. He seems like a good guy. So he kicked it with a couple of willful teenagers? Not like we all haven’t thought about doing it. What bothers me is the amount of money involved. 3.5 mil is a lot of money.
onthemark
@ChgoReason: “Not like we all haven’t thought about doing it.” Speak for yourself, that’s disgusting.
And you mean willing not “willful” (though they might have been “willful” too).
onthemark
@ChgoReason: But you’re right about one thing. $3.5 million is the most expensive whore in history! Republicans are always telling us they are good with money lol.
Harley
“The news emerging now suggests that Hastert’s sympathy for Foley’s plight might have been MORE personal than anyone could have imagined.” Come on Queerty editors. That’s sloppy and lazy.
Bauhaus
@ChgoReason:
If what bothers you about this is the money only, not that Hastert “‘kicked it’ with a couple of willful teenagers”, you should do some serious soul searching. The only other group of people teens should be “kicking it” with, is other teens.
There isn’t one redeeming quality to the Republican Party. It’s rotten and corrupt from top to bottom.
obiwanknobe
He’s a Republicrit. It just seems they have more of them , but this is more serious than just being a closeted hypocrite.
Bob LaBlah
If ol’ brother Hastert were smart he would tell his former good ol’ boy network this: either get this thing squashed or I will tell the entire world what really did happen to Rush Limbaugh a few years back during a Hawaiian vacation.
For those of you who forgot Rush seem to have a “problem” that not only required the police and paramedics but when they took him out of the room THE ENTIRE FLOOR WAS LOCKED DOWN. People were told to stay in their rooms, no one was allowed on the floor and he was taken out the “back door” more of less. Yes, I would tell, sir. Your ass is on the line and you clearly have no friends if it reached this point.
Mike
I wish somebody would pay me $3.5 Million to go away and be quiet!
Giancarlo85
Stupid disgusting old men on here fantasizing about molesting people. What else is new? Willful? Are you fucking kidding me? Somebody was raped. Is that willing rape as the republicans talk about all the time?
Hastert is nothing more than a criminal like most republicans. The republican party is tied to the Chinese mafia (this is a fact, check the Sheldon Adelson connection) and other criminal elements.
Desert Boy
Chris Myers, a Republican, involved in a rent-boy scandal.
Newt Gingrich, a Republican, involved in numerous affairs.
John Boehner, a Republican, had affair with lobbyist Lisbeth Lyons.
Phillipe Hinkle, a Republican, paid a male w h o r e for sex.
Christopher Lee, a Republican, responded to Craigslist ad with shirtless pics.
Mark Sanford, a Republican, had an Argentine babe on the side.
John Ensign, a Republican, has affair with staffer.
Vito Fossella, a Republican, had affair with lieutenant colonel.
Larry Craig, a Republican, played footsies in a mens room in the airport.
David Vitter, a Republican, hired hookers to dress him in diapers.
Bob Allen, a Republican, soliciting head from an undercover cop.
Mark Foley, a Republican, busted for sexting with male pages.
Jack Ryan, a Republican, took wife Jeri Ryan, AKA, Seven of Nine, to sex clubs
Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, married his cousin, had numerous affairs.
Henry Hyde, a Republican, notorious for his affairs.
Helen Chenoweth-Page, a Republican, had six year affair.
Bob Livingston, a Republican, had numerous affairs.
Bob Packwood, a Republican, had numerous affairs.
Buz Lukens, a Republican, jail after having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
Dan Crane, a Republican, had affair with male page.
Jon Hinson, a Republican, solicited for oral sex in a mens room.
Charlie Crist, a Republican, busted for paying two men to cover-up affairs.
But, it’s all Bill Clinton’s fault. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
crowebobby
@obiwanknobe: “Republicrit” I like it; hope it catches on.
martinbakman
I’m still hoping we learn the dirt on that old girl in the Senate with all his Taiwanese loot and sketchy discharge from the military.
Brian Sparky P'ark
Is it wrong to want to know what this idiot looked like when he was a teacher/coach? And seriously, Republican hypocrisy as always.
James Hart
@Desert Boy: I’m a Democrat, but I believe in fair play. I’m sure you’re leaving several Democrats off of the list, like JFK, FDR, LBJ, etc.. This is a HUMAN problem, not just a Republican problem. Grow up.
Marvellis1
So the “Coach” blew someone; that’s hardly news.
Bauhaus
@James Hart:
Yes, it’s a human problem. However, the Republican Party is the “values” party. They moralize, while actively denying the rights of others [gays], based on the very phony morals they are incapable of upholding.
YOU grow up.
mcflyer54
Anyone else even a little curious where Hastert (a former teacher and coach) got $3.5 million to give this guy. Oh that’s right, Hastert is a politician … never mind.
Mack
@James Hart: But the problem is the Republicans play all “God Almighty” with everyone by playing the “Righteous Religious”.
Desert Boy
@James Hart: The subject of this piece isn’t about Democrats: it’s about a so-called “family values” Republican, who is not only a hypocrite, but is anti-gay and second in-line to be president.
Make a contribution to Hastert’s defense fund.
Bob LaBlah
@Bauhaus: You forgot to add that they are always first to point out “this country was founded as a Christian nation with Christian values”.
LadyL
And this is “shocking” how?
onthemark
I’m looking forward to what comes out about Miss Lindsey Graham who just jumped into the presidential race! Hastert was a surprise, not on anybody’s gaydar. But everyone seems to have theories about Miss Lindsey.
@mcflyer54: Hastert was definitely involved in shady real estate deals while in Congress. This did make some news at the time, at least in his district, and irritated his constituents (who btw, elected a Democrat to replace him). There’s probably quite a bit of dirt there.
Giancarlo85
@Bauhaus: True.
James Hart is a troll. He is as Democrat as Ted Cruz. Republicans are the party of criminals and thieves. They protect white collar criminals by gutting the Frank-Dodd rules. These idiots are leaving this country vulnerable to white collar crime.
@James Hart: You aren’t a good bullshit artist at all. Keep trying… Don’t know why you log cabin types suddenly show up. This article isn’t about democrats. By the way, JFK and FDR have done a lot more good for this country than some phony corrupt Republicans.
You have a lot of growing up to do indeed.
Clark35
A lot of politicians like their male whores.
Bob LaBlah
@Mack: Speaking of “God Almighty” and “Righteous Religious” this was ol” Ronnie Reagan’s favorite song sung by his favorite choir:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpZ3jPMM5Ac
I remember back in the 1980’s they came out of their hotel when protesters were protesting about Reagan and DROWNED them out with other “patriotic songs”. Too bad many of you weren’t around back in the 1980’s. You would be looking back just as I do and say, “I’ll be damned. I sure as hell do remember when that happened. People, even the majority of gays, actually watched and listened to the news back then and even knew how to read between the lines of what was being said.
James Hart
@Bauhaus: You’re a silly man.
James Hart
@Giancarlo85: I’ve been a registered Democrat in NYC for 30 years.
James Hart
@Desert Boy: I already made a contribution to Bernie Sanders.
Bob LaBlah
@James Hart: I live few good hollers away from those folks of yesteryear trying to relive the 1990’s and drag us back there with them. Despite all the good he did do (including leaving the country with a huge surplus) I am NOT voting the other half (if you get my drift) into office. Outright trash dressed up in Versace is just what it is.
Good move on your part but you and I know the “snowball’s chance in hell” saying does apply to ol’ Bernie.
Giancarlo85
I’ll vote for Hillary… although she has questionable ties to corporations, but she is a whole lot better than any republican and she is certainly better than Bernie Sanders (oh please). Martin O’Malley is a better candidate than the potentially senile Bernie Sanders. People complain about Hillary’s age, yet are okay with Sanders? Rigghhhhhtttt.
@James Hart: Please don’t lie to us.
Giancarlo85
@James Hart: What was wrong with his post exactly? He is right about the republican party. They try to elevate themselves above others all the time and say they are always moral. What is your point in this article? Your posts are almost as nonsensical as Bob McBlahs…
zoomlens
@Desert Boy: Charlie Crist is a Dem now. You know those Florida guys, they go both ways.
russellhm
@Bauhaus: Thank you! You’ve nailed it. The party that claims ownership of “family values” struggles to live those values. I suggest they stop even mentioning family values in their propaganda/campaign speeches/materials/platform. Sweep before your own door is the apt adage for these trolls. Rubio says same-sex marriage will spell the end of Christianity. Not a bad thing at all. But to date, I’ve yet to read or hear of any heterosexual marriage in trouble/divorce because of GLBT equality. This dead horse just simply can’t be beaten any more. As a friend’s wife once said to me, “Don’t wrestle in the mud with a pig. You both get dirty but the pig loves it.” Just too many “pigs” in the Republican clown car/caravan!
Desert Boy
@James Hart: Is this a great country or what? We’re free to throw away money on candidates who have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning.
Desert Boy
@zoomlens: He’s a Dem now? Too funny.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: If you think Bernie Sanders is “potentially senile” at 73, then your hero Saint Jerry Brown (age 77) must really be drooling into his Jello at the old folks’ home.
You’re the one who’s always bitching about how conservative Americans are, we don’t have REAL leftist parties like Europe and South America do, yadda yadda yadda… which is true enough. But when an actual social*st finally runs for president, your only response is to make fun of him for being old?
NoCagada
@James Hart: I suggest you learn the meaning of HYPOCRISY. It will serve you well.
Billy Budd
@Desert Boy: Loved your list. Hypocrisy is high among republicans.
martinbakman
Foley, Hastert, McConnell, Craig
Desert Boy
@Billy Budd: Thanks.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: I already said Jerry Brown is a bit too old to run for President and I think he pretty much said he really doesn’t want to do so. Sanders looks older than Brown though.
And Sanders isn’t a leftist. And a social*st? How the fuck is that man a social*st? He’s at best a MODERATE. You can’t be anymore braindead. The last real social*st that had any weight in this country was Eugene Debs. The very weak social*st Party of the US has NOT endorsed Sanders who is a democrat and has the record of a moderate. Stewart Alexander will probably run again for the SPUSA, but pretty much a non-factor.
*social*st is a censored word on here.
Simone Peter (German Green Party/Alliance ’90) makes Sanders look like a right winger. Get the fuck out of your American view of the world please. It’ll help put everything into better perspective.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: I don’t even know why I reply to someone as stupid, one dimensional and idiotic as you. Sanders isn’t even a real leftist. He’s a fucking moderate. And if you can’t see that, you are stuck in a one dimensional political system.
Here is some better perspective: A moderate in certain European countries would be called a communi*st here.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: He’s definitely to the left of Hillary, so why do you hate him so much? As for the terminology, he’s called himself a social*st for decades, as have countless others. Believe it or not, there are these things called dictionaries, and we’re not required to submit all our terminology for approval by a certain vicious, nasty, hateful, ungrateful immigrant who doesn’t even like it here.
And quit violating the Queerty comment policy. Calm down! Why do you have to be such a vicious, nasty, hateful pr1ck all the time, even with people who mostly agree with you? You are seriously mentally ill. Or maybe it’s just the extreme Vitamin D deficiency as I suggested before. (Did you even go outside today? And you live in L.A., sheesh.)
But hopefully you’ll have a stroke by the time you’re 35, so I’ll keep messing with your head. 🙂
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: And btw – FLAGGED and FLAGGED.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: Hillary is in bed with corporations as I have said. I will vote for her ultimately because of the lack of other options (because when it comes down to it, she’ll win the nomination and I would never vote republican). Sanders is not likely at all, and neither is O’Malley (who has better chances than Sanders but not by much). The last real leftist was Debs. This is a fact.
“for approval by a certain vicious, nasty, hateful, ungrateful immigrant who doesn’t even like it here.”
Where did I say I didn’t like it here? California is fine. Good weather, decent politics… you’re the nasty, vicious hateful little bigot! And now you attack my background like A TRUE RAC*S*T XENOPHOBIC BIGOT
I’m not violating any comment policy. Learn how to post and having a real coherent argument. You’re a nasty vindictive shithead who has been on my case for a long time.
Vitamin D deficiency? Are you mentally deficient? I work for a public utility. I work fucking outside seven hours a day! I have to wear sunscreen. You’re a fucking moron!
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: Thanks for showing how much of a nasty xenophobic a-hole you really are. Left wing my ass. You show your true colors. Immigrant bashing and insulting. Fuck your demented sense of politics.
You are mentally defective, you have no social skills and you are a self righteous douchebag! Thank you man for showing your TRUE COLORS. You nasty pathetic slob.
Giancarlo85
BTW, I am inside today because it was 94F outside. It was fucking hot. I have the AC going. I don’t want to be outside right now! Too HOT! Maybe I’ll go out in a while now… since it isn’t 9PM (local time LA as of this post)
And with that, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT being by YOURSELF.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: Flagged again. I’m much LESS insulting than you are, always, and you’re perennially in violation of the comment policy.
I like immigrants fine as long as they don’t spend all their time bitching about how much they HATE the US… like you do in about half your posts here. I know very well who Debs was, and I bet most of the readers here (except the Republicans) know about him too.
I’m not by myself. And if you’re going out only at night, YES, that’s it – you aren’t getting any Vitamin D! Try 5000mg capsules (make sure it’s D3).
onthemark
Giancarlo85 is fun to mess with! He takes the bait every time.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: Keep on flagging… that has about much sway and significance as your social life… meaning NIL.
Have a nice day, xenophobe.
I never said I hated this country. There are some very nice parts of this country… Colorado has some nice parts… California is nice. Love San Francisco and good parts of LA.
I’m not saying I hate anything. I don’t like the political system in this country and thinks it needs a major rebalancing and the republican party needs to disappear.
“YES, that’s it – you aren’t getting any Vitamin D! Try 5000mg capsules (make sure it’s D3).”
Again with the moronic remark about that. I am outside more than you are as my job is about being outside 6-7 hours a day. You fat lazy slob.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: I really should stop replying to your xenophobic nasty hateful remarks…
You act like a typical American right winger who calls himself a liberal.
Giancarlo85
Anyways off to ARENA to dance and tip some go-go boys. Have fun being a little douchebag who tries but fails to be smart! 🙂
Chris L. Reynolds
Charge the extortionist with his crime, and get Hastert to a Therapist!
tjr101
That’s the party of “family values” for ya!
Cam
Just more proof that anti-gay bigotry is usually a sign of a self hating closet case.
Another conservative child molester, getting to be a very very common story.
onthemark
@James Hart: I remembered only a couple of recent Democratic politicians who were brought down by extramarital sex.
Of course, Gov. Jim McGreevey of New Jersey who resigned over a gay affair. He even had a “slow-motion” resignation where he remained in office for many, many weeks. But to the exasperation of Republicans, the voters mostly shrugged. They considered it more of a legitimate coming-out process rather than hypocrisy. He could probably, easily have served out his term (his 2nd) instead of resigning.
Then there was Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, who resigned after it was revealed he’d been seeing very expensive prostitutes. That was quite a bit different. Having an affair is not a crime – despite what some prudes here on Queerty seem to think! – but prostitution is illegal, and Spitzer had formerly been an aggressive, self-righteous prosecutor in exactly the same kind of cases.
So there you go – ONE.
As several people here have pointed out, the problem Republicans keep getting into is crowing that they’re “morally” better than everybody else, and endlessly denouncing gay sex and extramarital sex in general, and then getting caught doing such things anyway.
Democratic voters in general care much less (or not at all) about that stuff, and properly consider extramarital affairs to be irrelevant to lawmaking and governing.
FDR, JFK & LBJ had their extramarital affairs in a different era (Ike too, btw, and probably Nixon). Voters mostly didn’t know about that stuff – because the news media didn’t tell them – but I think most voters would be happy to have that arrangement back again!
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: “I don’t like the political system in this country and thinks it needs a major rebalancing and the republican party needs to disappear.”
I totally agree with you there!
But again, Sanders is definitely to the left of Hillary, so what do you think is so bad about him running? Be specific. You’re not saying he’s to the right of Hillary? (He’s on TV right now, denouncing the awful TPP deal.) So what is it, just your usual ageism?
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: The left of what? What is the left in this country? There is no real left. Hillary is center of right and Sanders is pretty close to that. MAYBE he’s a centrist (JUST MAYBE!). No ageism. I like Jerry Brown, but he ruled out running. Sanders just doesn’t seem to be in that great of health.
Oh and he isn’t a social*it. No matter how much he wants to claim to be. In any other country, he would be right of center. He isn’t even close to being a social*st in any other developed country. You want a social*st? Think Alexis Tsipras. Tsipras makes Sanders look like a right winger. That’s just one of many examples.
You need to think a bit more globally. Not everything is as one dimensional as the American political system.
Edit: This site and censoring social*st. I don’t quite understand that one.
By the way, if I was such an ageist as you try to claim (like the misguided idiot you are) why would I support either Hillary or Brown?
I only support certain candidates because of the lack of real options. I bite my tongue supporting democrats as they are still too cozy with corporations. Sanders is no different. Big whoopie doo… the guy is in favor of universal health care. Universal health care has been in countries like Germany for decades (perhaps since 1880 when it comes to Germany).
Giancarlo85
Wait I get it… Sanders is a social*st in the American political system. If he was in any other developed country, he’s either a moderate or right of center. His ideas were implemented many decades ago in various developed countries… and at the same time those countries tilted far more to the left that even conservatives are considered left wing when compared to American politicans. Sanders is decades behind when it comes to being a real social*st.
This is called having a bit of perspective.
Anyways, I’m tired and don’t want to argue all day. Have a nice day! I’m going to be testing out a new fuel efficient car today.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: I don’t disagree with your comparisons to other countries, and I’m well aware of them. But you see that change comes slo-o-o-owly here.
“This site and censoring social*st. I don’t quite understand that one.” Yeah, nobody can explain that one.
Gracias for being so polite for a change. Usually when you try to be “polite” you end up saying something like “go fuck yourself please” (!!!!!) which I must admit is hilarious. But thanks. Enjoy your fuel-efficient test drive.
James Hart
@Giancarlo85: If you vote for Hillary, then you are no better than a corporate fascist.
James Hart
@onthemark: Giancarlo s a phony. He supports Hillary who is nothing more than a corporate fascist, but gives Bernie Sanders a hard time. He’s crazy. And stupid!
Kangol
@ChgoReason: Are you kidding?
Denny Hastert has a long record as a hom0phobe, supporting the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and voting against ENDA, to protect LGBTQ people in the workplace.
He also voted for a constitutional amendment to “establish that marriage shall consist of one man and one woman”, and supported the Christian Coalition!
This “pobrecito” also was involved in the House banking scandal, and other scandals during his time in office. AND after Kirk Fordham brought disgraced Mark Foley’s behavior with Congressional pages, Hastert did nothing, nor did his Chief of Staff, who is alleged to have been his closeted lover.
Why are people always so willing to let anti-gay Republican politicians off the hook just because the lazy media refuse to remind people of their horrible records? Google is only a fresh webpage away!
Giancarlo85
@James Hart: You are a lunatic. I’ll vote for her over Sanders, who is no better.
@James Hart: You are the crazy stupid ignorant fool on here. YOu don’t know anything about politics. Just the other day you were spouting off right wing talking points, and here you are claiming to support Bernie Sanders. Cut the crap please. You are the real phony here, and you didn’t even address this article. You only criticized Obama and Hillary. By the way, kiddo… this is going to be real shocker for you… but Sanders has his hands in corporate pockets too just like every other politician in this country.
I can’t believe they make them as naive and STUPID as you.
Giancarlo85
By the way, I’ll certainly support Hillary over any republican.
So tell me, james. How does it feel to be so fake? You’re say I’m a corporate fa*sc*ist? Prove it. I’m more leftist than your little brain can comprehend. I am so much to the left, Bernie Sanders looks like a right winger. I think this country needs someone like Alexis Tsipras in charge. You are not in a position to judge my politics because your view is naturally one dimensional. And if you really cared about not supporting corporations, you wouldn’t be supporting ANYONE from EITHER political party, including Sanders!
ChgoReason
@Kangol: u shouldn’t take politics too seriously. It’s all just a beauty pageant anyway.
jjunke
what I find most shocking is that apparently it is illegal to take your own money out of a bank in cash!! so much for the land of the free…..glad I live there.
jjunke
ooppss. left out a DON’T.. as in glad I DON’T live in the USA.