[x]

So says Andy Richter, Conan O'Brien's sidekick, who went to Yorktown High School when Hastert was coach.

If it was as obvious as that, how'd the guy ever get elected?

[erlayman]

It wasn’t obvious to him, or anyone else apparently. Just covered up in keeping with the secrecy and social stigma of sex abuse at the time. Whether scoutmaster or coach or whatever doesn’t mean the same scenario would unfold today.

Richter also claimed he doesn’t recall anyone questioning Hastert’s behavior. Julie Kliegman

@chrislhayes @mattyglesias tbh, I don’t find it’s upsetting me now. I’m just so struck by how easy it was to do that. Nobody questioned it.

— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) April 9, 2016

[heye2monn]

Hastert had a logical explanation for the chair. He said it was so he could see if the kids were fighting. He wanted to protect the boys by watching them closely. Very closely.