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ABC News Says Hastert is Target in Abramoff Probe Steve Marshall Reporting KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO WASHINGTON, DC (KNX) -- ABC News is standing behind its story that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) is "in the mix" in the FBI's investigation of Congressional corruption. The Department of Justice has denied any probe of Hastert and the Speaker has branded the story "absolutely untrue," demanding a retraction from ABC News. The news organization says sources in law enforcement told them that disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has provided the FBI with information about Hastert and a number of other members of...

David Westin George Stephanopoulos Brain Ross ABC News 7 West 66th St. New York, NY 10023 RE: False Story Regarding Justice Department Investigation Dear Mr. Westin, Stephanopoulos, and Mr. Ross: At 7:25 p.m., the Statement of the Department of Justice confirmed: “Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department.” At 10:21 p.m., you wrote: “Whether they like it or not, members of Congress, including Hastert, are under investigation,” on federal official said tonight.” This statement is false, and your republication of it after actual knowledge of its falsity constitutes libel and defamation. ABC News’ continued publication of this...

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday denied a report that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI in connection with a corruption probe.ABC News, citing high level Justice Department sources, said information implicating Hastert had been developed from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government.But department officials, who asked to not be identified, said the story was not accurate and that Hastert was not under investigation. "The story is wrong. Hastert is not under investigation," one official said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Justice Department official denied a report on Wednesday that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI in connection with a corruption probe. ABC News, citing unnamed Justice Department sources, reported that information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists now cooperating with the government. But a Justice Department official told Reuters: "The story is wrong. Hastert is not under investigation."