Dennis Hastert Has Honorary Degree Revoked

The Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees has voted to strip Dennis Hastert of his honorary degree.

According to a memo filed with the board, Hastert’s recent conviction and testimony regarding his involvement in the sexual abuse of teens is “incontrovertible evidence” that he has acted in ways to do not reflect the values of Northern Illinois University.

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The revocation is unprecedented with the board, who still voted to strip the former speaker of the house of his honorary degree.

Hastert’s Doctor of Laws degree was awarded to him in 1999.

Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison April 27 for making structured withdrawals from banks in order to pay $3.5 million in hush money to a person he had sexually abused while employed as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.

Hastert was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine, which he has reportedly already done, and participate in a sex offender treatment program.

Federal Judge Thomas Durkin called Hastert a “serial child molester” and also gave him two years of supervised release.

Earlier this month, Hastert was stripped of his wrestling honors by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which was the first time the organization has taken away someone’s award.