>>> The reason he achieved a lofty position should have no effect on his sentence.
When I heard of this tale of woe, I thought back to his coming to the Speakership. Newt had been thrown out for philandering, and his purported replacement (can’t recall his name) was also thrown out in advance, for the same reason. Along comes Hastert and sails into the speakership.
I’m convinced he got the job PRECISELY because someone had the goods on his peccadillos, and could use that as a lever to keep him in line.
I am convinced that anyone who gets promoted in DC has got skeletons known to the puppeteers.
Which really makes you wonder about Paul Ryan.
That's my take as well. It seems like the only way to hide your deviancy is to run for office.