Former House Speaker Hastert Indicted In Probe Into $3.5M In Withdrawals

NPR ^

[navysealdad]

Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Chicago. The Illinois Republican, 73, is charged with trying to evade cash withdrawal requirements, and with lying to the FBI about it.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

"But sometimes people just like to keep cash. My grandfather used to. It was just the way he was. But that was a long time ago."

Sounds like my grandmother.

She kept a few grand cash in the bottom of her hamper back when a few grand was a lot of dough. (Mid-50s).

I, however, would never dream of doing such a thing.

Never ever.

[Major Matt Mason]

Not a big fan of Hastert, but this is probably as much of a nothingburger as the Delay and Stevens indictments, which ended up essentially being thrown out. It is all about trying to paint the GOP as corrupt to use as a talking point in the next election cycle.

[SharpRightTurn]

“I fail to understand why the government has any compelling interest to monitor how people choose to store and retrieve their own money.”

Fedzilla wants to know what you are saying on the phone and internet, as well as what you’re doing with your money.

But the authoritarian groupies might say about this chipping away of freedom, “if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothering to worry about.”

[hinckley buzzard]

Looks to me like Hastert was being blackmailed. For what, is yet to be determined. Someone had the goods on him, demanded and got big time protection money.

I always thought Hastert was a weak sister, kind of a weasel. Guess we may find out soon enough just what he was up to..

[DBeers]

I fail to understand why the government has any compelling interest to monitor how people choose to store and retrieve their own money.

Agree. It is time to do away with this cash monitoring nonsense.

[hinckley buzzard]

I fail to understand why the government has any compelling interest to monitor how people choose to store and retrieve their own money.

This law was passed to track major cash transactions by drug dealers. It is legal to make large deposits or withdrawals, but do not attempt to evade and do not ever lie to a government agent when they ask you about it. Best to remain silent, but Hastert foolishly lied to fed investigators when he could not explain the withdrawals.

[InterceptPoint]

Crooked as a paper clip...
++++
My recollection exactly. No sympathy from my end.

[digger48]

He should have just started a “foundation” to launder the money like She Who Shall Not Be Named

[kiryandil]

I fail to understand why the government has any compelling interest to monitor how people choose to store and retrieve their own money.

It's The King's Money, peasant.

You'd think that a guy with an Old English screen nick would understand that. ;) /(gentle teasing)

[dfwgator]

Let the politicians be hoisted on their own petard.

[Axenolith]

Not how much of “your own money” but how many of “Their Federal Reserve Notes” (IOUs) are being withdrawn.

“Your own money” would be specified as redeemed Lawful Money per 12 USC Sec 411 either as deposit (non interest bearing account) or withdrawal...

You may get the same paper, but it changes ledger entries...

[VRW Conspirator]

Screw that Bahstid! I hope he rots in jail! He was the silent RINO in chief during the Bush years.

[FredZarguna]

Queue tape of Rich Lowry saying, “You have no expectation of privacy when transacting business with your own money.”

[kiryandil]

As for lying to the FBI, why the hell would anyone ever talk to the FBI? If the FBI says they have questions for you, TALK TO MY ATTORNEY!

He forgot that he is no longer one of The Owners (of us).

It would have been OK if he was a retired Democrat Owner, but he's a retired Republican Owner, so that makes him the equivalent of a peasant, like us.

And they got LOTS of laws for us...

[Moonman62]

I fail to understand why the government has any compelling interest to monitor how people choose to store and retrieve their own money.

...

Well in this case it appears the law helped uncover a crime. Hastert was paying $3.5 million to someone as hush money.

My advice to anyone is that when the FBI wants to talk to you don’t tell them anything except that you want a lawyer. They nail people left and right for lying to FBI agents, and the feds have plenty of money and resources to prosecute and imprison people who do so, even when it may seem harmless.

[FredZarguna]

Joe Paterno - type deal?

That would be Jerry Sandusky, not Joe Paterno. No trier of fact has ever found that Paterno tried to hide Sandusky's crimes.

[dfwgator]

I knew back then that Hastert protested too much.

Hastert tells President Bush FBI raid was unconstitutional (William Jefferson, D-La)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1637208/posts

[semaj]

See #21.

[Osage Orange]

I probably have 75 to 100 withdrawals a year......

[Mr Ramsbotham]

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to a person identified only as Individual A, "in order to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct against Individual A." ... Hastert served eight years as speaker, and just over 20 as a member of the House, representing a suburban Chicago district. He was a former high school teacher and wrestling coach.

I think I can guess what this is all about.