Dennis Hastert paid to conceal sexual misconduct, sources say

[peecoolyour]

Source: LA Times

Indicted former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was paying an individual from his past to conceal sexual misconduct, two federal law enforcement officials said Friday.

One of the officials, who would not speak publicly about the federal charges in Chicago, said “Individual A,” as the person is described in Thursday’s federal indictment, was a man and that the alleged misconduct was unrelated to Hastert’s tenure in Congress. The actions date to Hastert’s time as a Yorkville, Ill., high school wrestling coach and teacher, the official said.

“It goes back a long way, back to then,” the source said. “It has nothing to do with public corruption or a corruption scandal. Or to his time in office.” Thursday’s indictment described the misconduct “against Individual A” as having “occurred years earlier.”

Asked why Hastert was making the payments, the official said it was to conceal Hastert’s past relationship with the male. “It was sex,’’ the source said. The other official confirmed that the misconduct involved sexual abuse.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hastert-misconduct-20150529-story.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. Woohoo! Tabloid city.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

68. Another day, another kiddie diddling repig.

[ananda]

2. So it's either rape or pedophilia?

Geez

[Major Nikon]

4. or both

[daleanime]

27. +1

[Jackpine Radical]

51. Pedophilia IS rape, at least statutory rape.

But unless the victim had not progressed beyond Tanner Stage 2 (prepubescent), it wasn't within the range of behaviors indicative of pedophilia. Anyway, you can't diagnose pedophilia from behavior alone. Some sickos have other reasons for molesting children.

[Major Nikon]

64. Pedophilia is the desire, rape is the action

At this point Hastert appears to be another Sandusky, although he may have preferred older victims.

[jeff47]

17. Theoretically, it could be consensual with another adult.

However, I would take the opposite side of that bet.

[MosheFeingold]

18. He was a boys HS wrestling coach

So I would assume pedophilia and statutory rape.

He always was a slimy guy, so this doesn't surprise me, at all.

The only other thing it could have been would have been taking bribes re: Turkey.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Like that creep from Foxcatcher.

[Hoppy]

22. If you're calling Dennis a turkey, I'm going to alert that as a personal attack.

[cannabis_flower]

34. Against the turkey, right? nm

[yurbud]

58. the stuff with Turkey wouldn't make the news if the Bushies went to the trouble to gag Sibel Edmonds

over it.

[cstanleytech]

47. Or he was having sex with another guy, I mean lets face it

he wouldnt be the first politician that swung both ways that then wanted to cover it up.

[JimDandy]

59. Having sex with another male is not

"misconduct", which is how the anonymous source termed it. Most likely was sexual abuse of a male minor and since the statute of limitations is long gone, it's being labeled misconduct.

[cstanleytech]

69. Problem is we dont know though for sure, it could have been for example an

intern who was at the school trying to get their teachers certificate for example.

[JimDandy]

83. True. That would qualify as employment misconduct.

But I can't see Hastert, or anyone, paying 3.5 mil for something that was simply a termination of employment offense. Now sexual relations with a minor...yeah that I can see him paying up for all these years later because that type of misconduct, while not prosecutable any more, would have meant (and now is) his political and social death.

[cstanleytech]

84. Oh I can see him willing to pay the money especially if the guy who he did it with has video

of him and Hastert having sex.
After all claims are one thing and Hastert could recover from that in time if it was revealed but actual video of Hastert doing the deed as it were would kill any potential career he might have as a lobbyist unless it was for the porn industry.

[merrily]

3. POS.

[7962]

5. Well, it was hard to believe it was going to be anything else. nt

[blue neen]

6. Another Republican hypocrite.

It seems like they're everywhere.

[peecoolyour]

8. Yep. It's never a matter of if, but when. nt

[gopiscrap]

7. All republicans are like this

it is pervasive in their culture as repugs!

[hamsterjill]

11. Right???!!!

It's like being some kind of sexual deviant is a requirement to belong to the inner circle of the party!

[LuvNewcastle]

77. God forgives Republicans,

so we should, too.

[Independent_Liberal]

80. It certainly appears that way.

They all seem to be crooked in one way or another.

[gopiscrap]

9. BTW:

Welcome to DU!!

[brooklynite]

10. Reaching out to a friend in Illinois politics

If there's a story, she should know about it.

[Bucky]

23. Please don't

"Reaching out in Illinois" is probably how this whole mess started

[snooper2]

43. ROFLMAO

[murielm99]

57. This has been whispered about for years.

Look at his relationship with his top aide. Notice that his wife seldom came to D.C.

I am wondering why it is news now. The real news should have been the Sibil Edmonds story.

[Independent_Liberal]

81. Add Denny to that long list of Illinois politicians...

...who have been charged with corruption over the years. That list of course includes convicted felons like Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan, etc.

[Schema Thing]

12. I'm going to guess that there is even more to it... as in:

he was being blackmailed by the victim AND other(s?) who found out about it. I could be wrong...

[gvstn]

62. This makes the most sense.

Considering how much money was involved. The FBI could have found person B because they were following/watching person A to see what he was doing with the cash (possibly distributing it).

Hastert could have just let the chips fall where they may since he was out of politics. There would be no investigation of a 35 year old crime. Not even civil suits can be filed over it unless I'm mistaken or that state has no statute of limitations for that crime.
If he got fired who cares. He is 73 and obviously has at least $3.7 million.

[Newsjock]

13. Famous last words?

"The only way I can lose this election is if I'm caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy."

(I know, he wasn't the one who said this. But still.)

[Arugula Latte]

14. Well, well, well ...

Makes your nemesis Bill Clinton's thing with Monica look tame by comparison, eh, Denny Boy?

[calimary]

72. No kidding! THIS is the GOP's idea of a "clean," and "scandal-free" leader.

I was tempted to use the ROFL smilie, at least regarding the irony in my reply title. But considering there's a victim here, it's no laughing matter.

He always looked like a huge walking, talking case of constipation, at least to me.

[Gregorian]

15. Yeah, but they're probably doing it in Congress as well, which is why they can't get anything done.

They're not only screwing us, they're screwing each other.

[erronis]

31. Group Fouk is so much more fun than legislating, and you might be able to make some serious$s!

[Myrina]

16. So scuzzball never should have been elected in the first place ...

Jeez.

[Baitball Blogger]

19. A cover-up that protects someone's public office position IS public business.

Because that person will be susceptible to blackmail and will need to come up with large cashflows to keep the secret quiet. Or, worse.

[Backwoodsrider]

21. people dont rememer his so Fox stared calling him a democrat on Wed,

Even though he was a hardcore repub speaker. I hope people wise up and see Fox News for what it is, a right wing propaganda tool like the Nazis used did in WWII. I for one am not going to sugar coat it. Somebody starts quoting Fox news(haha news!) I am going to remind them Fox targets the uneducated for a reason....

[cstanleytech]

49. True, Joseph Goebbels would probably be proud of the job Fox News does. nt

[peacebird]

24. I thought blackmailing someone was illegal? Is 'Individual A' also under investigation?

Not that I'm sad that Hastert is indicted...... Just wondering if the crime of blackmail is going to get the other person the way the coverup got him?

[bluedigger]

30. I would assume that 'Individual A' has already turned for the DA.

The best way to bring in a big fish is with a smaller one.

[peacebird]

38. ah, that seems possible. Thanks!

[gvstn]

63. Also the way the indictment is worded

The prosecutor uses specific language that makes it sound like a business deal not blackmail (I believe this was intentional to signal no blackmail charges.)

~The defendent agreed to provide individual A, $3.5 million in order to compensate for and conceal his previous past misdeeds against individual A.~

[jeff47]

39. Depends on how long ago it stopped.

Earlier reports said that he Hastert stopped paying. If he stopped paying long enough ago, the statute of limitations may have run out.

[nichomachus]

41. They can only prosecute blackmail

If the person asks for the money and they can prove it.

Usually what happens is that the person being blackmailed goes to the police first and the police set up a sting where they record the guy asking for the money. If they don't have that, they don't have a case.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

25. The real speaker of the house

during Heavy D's term was Tom the bug man.

[erronis]

33. I would absolutely love to see him float in a pond of his potions.

But first, make him name/verify everyone who used his "services". I would imagine Rove, Norquist, most lobbyists have been serviced by and serviced him.

Careful - these people control most of the apparatus and most of the wealth around DC, and increasingly in the states. They are not amused by these discussions.

[Fearless]

26. All the more telling after his support of Mark Foley

[nichomachus]

28. People like this rarely stop at one

So there's the possibility we could see this unleash a Cosby-like avalanche of accusations.

And with hush money in the milllions and millions of dollars, there must have been some "misconduct."

[Stuart G]

29. Sex. Sex. Sex. Evangelical Christian ..and it turns out to be SEX.father of two, and sex w a minor

Last edited Fri May 29, 2015, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Do you think this one will get a lot of say from the other Evangelical Christians?.

Condemnation or more attempts to save his soul..

.the poor fellow had to pay out all that ..hush money..


Poor fellow, he needs to be saved, not condemned....they will say..

But he lied..

didn't he?..to the FBI?..What do you think of that??

[irisblue]

32. So how many times did he vote for anti LGBT legislation?

Bisexual(?) in a mean nasty closet.

[erronis]

35. Give the poor guy a break. Maybe it was just carnal knowledge with barnyard animals.

[peecoolyour]

36. Here you go...

YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage
YES on Constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman
NO on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation

Supports anti-flag desecration amendment
Supports requiring schools to allow prayer
Rated 92% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record
Supports a Constitutional Amendment for school prayer
YES on giving federal aid only to schools allowing voluntary prayer

http://www.ontheissues.org/IL/Denny_Hastert.htm

[rocktivity]

37. Shades of Rep. Mark Foley?

Ocotber 2006:

(PDF): The Sexually Explicit Internet Messages That Led to Fla. Rep. Foley's Resignation

Hastert afraid to report Foley for fear of being seen as homophobic

Hastert Fights to Save His Job in Page Scandal

AP has a list of Repuke "excuses" for Foley's not being fired earlier

GOP House leaders call for criminal investigation of Foley

Posted by Rocktivity:

10/1/2006: ...(Rocktivity) calls for criminal investigation of GOP House leaders since at least two of them can charged as acessories. There is now also a matter of a six-figure contribution Foley made to one of the leaders who was told about the e-mails--hush money?

10/4/2006: I want to see when Foley gave Reynold's comittee $100,000, though I've also heard it could be as high as $350,000. Are such amounts normal?

rocktivity

[Renew Deal]

40. Has the person that was blackmailing him been arrested?

If not, why not?

[nichomachus]

42. No proof of blackmail?

Unless they have something in writing or a recording of the guy asking for money, they don't have a case. Maybe Hastert just offered the money without being asked.

[Renew Deal]

50. I can't imagine someone just pays this money without feeling pressured.

[nichomachus]

66. Neither can I, but without proof, there is no case -- no matter what we imagine n/t

[AlinPA]

44. How sweet it is! Dirty slime republicans.

[Liberal_in_LA]

45. Hastert scores 92% by the Christian Coalition on family issues

Rated 92% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-Family-Value voting record.

Hastert scores 92% by the Christian Coalition on family issues
The Christian Coalition was founded in 1989 by Dr. Pat Robertson to give Christians a voice in government. We represent millions of people of faith and enable them to have a strong, unified voice in the conversation we call democracy.
Our Five-Fold Mission:
Represent the pro-family point of view before local councils, school boards, state legislatures, and Congress
Speak out in the public arena and in the media
Train leaders for effective social and political action
Inform pro-family voters about timely issues and legislation
Protest anti-Christian bigotry and defend the rights of people of faith.
Our ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
Source: CC website 03n-CC on Dec 31, 2003

[cstanleytech]

48. I wonder if this might have an impact on that.

[Person 2713]

54. Yes he is now verifiably 100% in line with all their other hypocrites so his rating should rise!

[IggleDoer]

46. The Children?

What will we tell the children?

[still_one]

52. It sure does have something to do with public corruption. He was in an authoritative position, and

involved in sexual misconduct, and if the person was a minor, then it is even more damning

[FarPoint]

53. It appears the payoff began in around 2010....

If I'm collecting the trail of facts....So, why the big pay off now if all was silent since 1981? Was there payoff given in 1981 and forward during his political career? If not, why pay now?

[Person 2713]

56. That is correct THIS series of payoffs is from 2010 and forward . Other payoffswere not found , but

that does not prove he was not paying all the time he was in politics

[SaveOurDemocracy]

55. So how many of those smug, hypocritical idiots who led the witch-hunt against...

President Clinton does this make now?

[Independent_Liberal]

82. There are quite a few.

Gingrich, Hyde, and Livingston are the three I can think of off the top of my head. Any I'm forgetting?

[winstars]

60. HEY! NOW CAN WE GETRID OF THE FUCKING HASTERT RULE???

[BumRushDaShow]

71. It will be interesting to see if they try to rename it now!

[LawnKorn]

61. When are we going to read headlines like this about Dick Cheney?

I want to see Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and the whole slimy lot of them on trial.

[cosmicone]

65. Never

Dick Cheney's abuse victims probably don't live long enough to collect blackmail ....

[Independent_Liberal]

79. Many didn't see this coming.

I mention below that I predicted they would get Hastert on something years ago. Granted, I made a lot of predictions that didn't come true. But a few I did get right. Karma works in weird ways.

[TexasBushwhacker]

67. NBC just said it was a male student

from when he was a coach.

[truthisfreedom]

70. The repedo party.

[sofa king]

73. What of his 16 years keeping the Boy Scouts gay-less?

I'll bet that worked like Astroglide in a masturbation cessation course.

[LiberalElite]

74. I just knew it - of course it's sex

I felt a little frustrated this a.m. to read that Hastert's attorneys negotiated with the FBI to not state what he had allegedly done and was trying to hide but I knew it would come out anyway. I just didn't expect to be reading about it just a couple hours later!
I figured it was either a love child with an underage female or sex with an underage male. I was expecting the latter since Hastert had been a wrestling coach. The Family Values crowd never ceases to amaze.

[YOHABLO]

76. Why is it always high school coaches? Why is it always Republicans?

[Independent_Liberal]

78. This is funny. I predicted about 10 years ago...

...that at some point, they would get Hastert on something. It was around the time when those revelations from Sibel Edmonds about his connections with the Turkish officials came out. Rachel Maddow talked about that on her show last night.

So one of my prophecies came true. Feels like it's at least 10 years late, but it happened nonetheless. Seems like a lot of dirt about his past misdeeds is going to start coming to light.