UPDATE x1 CHICAGO – Wednesday morning, federal judge Thomas Durkin sentenced former U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert to 15 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervision, referring to him in the sentencing statement as a "serial child molester."
NBC NEWS: Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was sentenced Wednesday to 15 months in prison in his hush-money case by a judge who called him a "serial child molester" and ordered him to enroll in a sex-offender treatment program.
Hastert, 74, was accused of abusing four boys between the ages of 14 and 17 when he was a coach at Yorkville High School decades ago. One of them broke a lifelong silence to testify about his private torment at the hearing.
The onetime Republican power broker was not charged with any sexual crimes because of the statute of limitations, but he pleaded guilty to making illegal cash withdrawals to pay off one of his accusers.
UPDATE x2: Congressman Randy Hultgren, who now represents the 14th CD that Hastert once represented reacted to the sentencing today in this way:
In his autobiography, Speaker Hastert recalled that a favorite coach of his taught him ‘a lesson I’ve tried to remember ever since: There’s never sufficient reason to try to strip away another person’s dignity.’
Today, from his own mouth, Speaker Hastert confirmed his abominable sexual abuse of innocent, vulnerable children in our community —stripping away their dignity while he was in a position of trusted authority and a respected community leader. His decades-long cover-up is over.
My heart goes out to the victims, survivors and their families. I am in awe of the strength and courage of those who stood up, broke their silence, faced their abuser and said enough is enough. My prayers are with the survivors and my fellow residents in Kendall County as they continue their journey of healing.
Roger Simon, Politico's chief political columnist, reported from the courtroom:
