Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert to Plead Guilty

Photo: Dennis Hastert

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert plans to plead guilty to charges that he lied to the FBI and evaded currency reporting in order to withdraw $3.5 million in hush money to a person only known as Individual A.

According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin set Oct. 28 as the date for Hastert to enter the guilty plea.

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A plea deal would be mean that details surrounding Hastert, the hush money and the identity of Individual A may never come to light.

Hastert’s hush money was to be paid to Individual A because of alleged sexual abuse while Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.

Hastert pleaded not guilty in June to the charges. Also in June came allegations from Jolene Burdge, the sister of Steve Reinboldt, who claimed Hastert had sexually abused him.

Burdge claims Reinboldt told her his first same-sex experience was with Hastert. Reinboldt told Burdge he never said anything before because he thought no one would believe him. Reinboldt died in 1995 from an AIDS-related complication.