Patriot Act That Dennis Hastert Passed Led To His Indictment

[mike_c]

7. something about this story doesn't add up....

At least, I'm confused. Everyone's assumption seems to be that Hastert was paying someone he sexually abused for remaining silent, but whether or not that turns out to be the case, as I understand it Hastert is charged with making the payments, or with concealing them, not with the sexual abuse itself. Is that correct?

So it seems that the victim-- assuming there was one-- and the perpetrator had arrived at a settlement that was agreeable to both. I mean, how is that sort of "hush money" any different from signing a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for a financial settlement in any civil affair? "Hush money" is routine and common in that respect.

So if Hastert isn't charged with the sex crime itself, why is it a crime for him to reach a private monetary settlement with his victim if the victim himself is satisfied with the settlement? What am I missing here? I don't have any sympathy for Hastert-- I just don't understand why making the payments was the crime, rather than the sexual abuse. It seems to me that if the victim is agreeable, Hastert should pay in exchange for keeping his career out of tatters.