Former speaker dies at eighty four

Dennis Hastert, who served eight years as House speaker longer than any other Republican in U.S. history, died over the weekend at his home due to natural causes, according to the Kendall County Coroner's Office in Illinois.

Twenty year career in Congress

Hastert, of Illinois, served in the House from nineteen eighty seven to two thousand seven and became speaker in nineteen ninety nine. He relinquished the speaker's gavel in two thousand seven after Democrats took control of the chamber.

Allegations of abuse as coach

Nearly a decade after leaving Congress, Hastert faced allegations that he molested four teenagers, ages fourteen to seventeen, in the nineteen seventies when he was a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois.

Guilty plea to structuring payments

Hastert never faced sexual abuse charges because the statute of limitations had expired. But in two thousand fifteen, he pleaded guilty to structuring cash withdrawals to hide hush money payments to one of his sexual abuse accusers.

Sentenced to fifteen months

The following year, Hastert was sentenced to fifteen months in prison. He was released from a prison hospital in two thousand seventeen, several weeks ahead of schedule.

Hastert's own words at sentencing

At his sentencing hearing in two thousand sixteen, Hastert said he was deeply ashamed of his actions. I know I am here because I mistreated some of the athletes I coached, he said.

“I know I am here because I mistreated some of the athletes I coached.”

Judge's harsh assessment

U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin called Hastert a serial child molester. One accuser, Scott Cross, said in court that Hastert sexually abused him during his senior year in high school.

“I've always felt that what Coach Hastert had done to me was my darkest secret.”

Release conditions and fine

When released from prison, Hastert was banned from being alone with children or having pornography. His sentence included two years of supervised release and a two hundred fifty thousand dollar fine.

Political legacy and honors revoked

During his time in Congress, Hastert strongly supported the Iraq War and championed President George W. Bush's tax cuts and a Medicare prescription drug bill passed in two thousand three. In two thousand sixteen, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame revoked honors it had given to Hastert, who had been inducted in two thousand three.

The Hastert Rule and portrait removal

Hastert became the namesake of the unofficial Hastert Rule, which says the speaker should bring legislation to the floor only if it is supported by the majority of the majority. In two thousand fifteen, then House Speaker Paul Ryan had Hastert's portrait removed from a hallway in the Capitol.

From coach to Congress to prison

Born in Aurora, Illinois in nineteen forty two, Hastert was a teacher, coach and business owner before being elected to Congress in nineteen eighty six. He was named Coach of the Year in nineteen seventy six by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.