Hastert sentenced to 15 months in federal prison

By Bill Dwyer For Chronicle Media
Former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert

Former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert

Saying a previous plea agreement’s sentencing range of zero to five months was “insufficient,” Northern District of Illinois Judge Thomas M. Durkin sentenced former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to 15 months in prison Wednesday.

In the fall of 2015, Hastert pleaded guilty to violating banking laws and lying to the FBI about the reasons for withdrawing $1.7 million in “hush money” paid to a former student victim of his alleged sexual abuse. The victim was identified in court documents as “Individual A.”

“Individual A” did not testify at the hearing, but he has sued Hastert for failing to pay a total of $3.5 million.

Durkin passed down his sentence after emotional testimony that Hastert had sexually abused five teens. Durkin bluntly called Hastert a “serial child molester” at several points during his 30-minute sentencing statement.

Hastert, 74, will serve that sentence at a Level 4 federal medical facility.

The judge noted if not for Hastert’s age and deteriorating health, his sentence would have been far greater. Hastert was also fined $250,000 to be paid within the next 30 days.

Durkin was clearly moved by testimony of two other victims, Jolene Burdge, sister of deceased alleged Hastert victim Stephen Reinboldt, and a man previously identified as “Individual D.”

That victim is now known to be Scott Cross, 53, of Wheaton, brother of former Illinois House minority leader Tom Cross, a Hastert protégé.

After aides retrieved a wheel chair from the car, Hastert took a minute or two to pull himself from the back seat and was helped into the car. Police kept the public from entering the courthouse until Hastert cleared security. (Photo Bill Dwyer/for Chronicle Media)

After aides retrieved a wheel chair from the car, Hastert took a minute or two to pull himself from the back seat and was helped into the car. Police kept the public from entering the courthouse until Hastert cleared security.
(Photo Bill Dwyer/for Chronicle Media)

Testifying in court, Burdge, of Montana, read a letter her brother had written to her mother five months before he died. Reinboldt was a student wrestling team manager in the 1970s at Yorkville High School when Hastert coached wrestling there.

Reinboldt’s sister went on to describe the loneliness of his final days, sick with AIDs, in a one-room apartment. She referred to her brother as “lost and hopeless.”

“[Stephen] was a kid looking for refuge,” she told Hastert. “But your words and actions were soon used as a weapon.

“I want to make you accountable for molesting my brother,” she added.

She told the court 20 years ago when she challenged Hastert with allegations that he sexually abused her brother, Hastert treated her like she was “nothing.”

“Now, I hope I have been your worst nightmare,” she told Hastert.

Burdge stressed the importance of getting all the alleged sexual abuse facts of Hastert’s past out into the open.

“Telling the whole story [of Hastert’s alleged crimes] without sexual abuse is like telling the story of the Titanic without the ship,” she said.

The second victim who testified was Scott Cross. His voice shaking at times and crying at points, he told the court that at age 17 he had been betrayed by an authority figure he trusted implicitly.

“I respected and trusted Coach Hastert,” Cross said, adding, “Coach Hastert sexually abused me my senior year of high school in the fall.”

Cross related he stayed late after a practice and was alone with Hastert in the closed wrestler locker room at Yorkville High School when he told Hastert he was concerned about “making weight” for his next wrestling match.

Cross said Hastert told him he could help him lose weight by giving him a massage. During that massage, Cross testified, Hastert told him to “turn over.”

“He grabbed my penis and started to rub me,” Cross told the court.

Cross said he was stunned. He pulled up his pants and ran out of the room, he said.

Cross told the court he kept the events a secret for years, “I did not say anything to anyone,” he said. “I felt very alone and tremendously embarrassed,” he added.

It wasn’t until after prosecution of Hastert became public that Scott Cross told his brother and wife for the first time, he said.

“I want my family and children to know there is an alternative to staying silent,” Cross said.

As one woman in the back row clapped, Cross, his face tight and wet, walked out of the courtroom followed by his family.

Judge Durkin signaled his intention to impose a harsher sentence than called for in plea agreement in his initial comments. Meticulously going over the defense and prosecution arguments, Durkin acknowledged each point and explained why he agreed or disagreed.

Most germane to his sentence, Durkin said, “The range (of the plea deal guidelines) does not take into account the defendant’s crimes against children.”

The statute of limitations has expired to prosecute Hastert for alleged sexual abuse claims of the five minors who have come forward.

Durkin was scathing in his critique of Hastert’s behavior both four decades ago and in 2014, terming Hastert’s actions “criminal.”

Durkin did not mince words calling Hastert a “serial child molester.” In particular, he stressed that Hastert committed crimes as recently as 18 months ago, including lying to the FBI and leading them on a “wild goose chase” when Hastert allegedly tried to mislead the FBI into thinking “Individual A” was extorting him for hush money.

The judge seemed incensed at Hastert’s lie leading the FBI to conduct an unnecessary investigation. Durkin said the proper appellation was not “Individual A” but “Victim A.”

“(Victim A) was a victim once decades ago, and you tried to make him a victim again,” Durkin said.

Hastert rose unsteadily and slowly walked to podium to address the court prior to his sentencing.

In a weak, breathless voice, he said, “I know I’m here because I mistreated some of the athletes I coached.”

However, when it appeared Hastert was equivocating on the extent of his sexually abusive behavior, the judge put his foot down.

“Did you sexually abuse Mr. Cross?” Durkin asked Hastert bluntly.

“I don’t remember, but I accept Mr. Cross’s statements,” Hastert replied.

“And Individual B?”

“Yes,” Hastert answered.

“And Mr. Reinboldt, did you abuse him?” Durkin asked.

“It was a different situation, sir,” Hastert answered.

When Durkin pushed Hastert to elaborate, Hastert answered. “I would accept Ms. Burdge’s statement.”

“So you did sexually abuse him?” Durkin asked.

After a three-second hesitation, Hastert replied quietly, “Yes.”

Hastert’s defense team asked the judge to consider the former lawmaker’s age and ill health. But Judge Durkin said “as of this January there are 4,671 federal prisoners over the age of 65.”

“Your age didn’t prevent you from committing crimes,” Durkin said. “Your age should not prevent you from being punished for your crimes.”

As for the defense lawyer Thomas Green’s contention that Hastert had suffered enough through public humiliation, Durkin stated, “having your portrait taken down from the U.S. Capitol is not comparable to a minor [who’s] been sexually abused.”

Calling the case “tragic and sad on every level,” Durkin adjourned. The lawyers did not reach a specific date for Hastert to surrender.

 

 

 

 

— Hastert sentenced to 15 months in federal prison —