Dennis Hastert Paid to Hide Sexual Misconduct With Student: Official

NBC News ^ | 5/29/15 | PETE WILLIAMS, ERIN MCCLAM and TRACY CONNOR

[jimbo123]

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert paid a man to conceal sexual misconduct while the man was a student at the high school where Hastert taught, a federal law enforcement official told NBC News on Friday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity. Tribune newspapers reported earlier in the day that two unnamed federal officials said that Hastert paid a man from his past to conceal sexual misconduct.

Hastert was indicted Thursday on charges that he structured bank withdrawals to avoid federal reporting requirements and later lied about it to the FBI.

The indictment said that Hastert was paying an unidentified person from his past to conceal Hastert's "prior misconduct." The indictment did not specify the alleged misconduct or name the person.

The Yorkville, Illinois, school district where Hastert taught and coached wrestling from 1965 to 1981 said that it had "no knowledge of Mr. Hastert's alleged misconduct, nor has any individual contacted the District to report any such misconduct."

[Figment]

“Sounds like there’s a blackmailer out there who needs to be indicted along with Hastert.”

True. Apparently the guy ambushed him on cspan during a call in last years election coverage.

[razorback-bert]

I don't understand why Hastert wasn't aware of the law regarding withdrawing large sums. Did he just think he was exempt ?

[BunnySlippers]

For over 20 years!!!

[BunnySlippers]

But he began paying while teaching school.

[Figment]

“Now we are seeing why the Republicans are so weak. They are being blackmailed.”

Predatory sexual deviants should be outed no matter the party. Problem is, it doesn’t hurt libs

[BunnySlippers]

The radio played a phone call that Hastert got on call ins. It was the blackmailer ... and he just laughed!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Yes they should be outed so they can’t be blackmailed. If they vote to please an unelected blackmailer the republic is dead.

You are correct that it only hurts the right. You would have to blackmail the left with revelations of long term moral behavior, ownership of a gun, membership in a conservative organization, etc...

[Figment]

“He also doesn’t seem like what most people think of when they hear the word “gay” or “homosexual.”

Neither did the queer freak at Penn State

[Figment]

good one

[BunnySlippers]

Money laundering is illegal and he was structuring payments to hide.

[Wayne07]

I wouldn’t assume that caller is the blackmailer, Hastert is surely hiding a lot than one guy from 40 years ago.

[Figment]

” Isn’t blackmail still illegal?”

I can't for the life of me understand why it is though. If you've done something this disgusting, to a minor no less, why not extort the sob. The law doesn't punish it sufficiently most of the time

[TomGuy]

But he began paying while teaching school.

From one similar thread link, he met with some guy in 2010 and started making payments soon thereafter. The 'leak' did not say that this guy was the one Hastert was involved with -- only that the guy was knowledgeable.

Possibly, there was more than one receiving payments over the years. One link said that the officials knew of another youth involved with Hastert but they declined to include that in the indictment.

The details are still hazy. We will just have to wait for more 'leaks'.

[colorado tanker]

I have not heard that. He has been paying for over 30 years?

[jimbo123]

Lindsey Graham is a homo? I'm shocked, I tell you!

[rabidralph]

He should have been a scoutmaster.

[jaz.357]

Now we are seeing why the Republicans are so weak. They are being blackmailed.

BUMP!

[BunnySlippers]

I think we probably need to wait for a list of people being pai.

[CatherineofAragon]

Good grief, I wonder what’s in Boehner’s closet...half of Man Country?

[Ann Archy]

Probably gay....PLUS, his two adopted children were adopted illegally according to the NYTIMES. He is BLACKMAILED.