Dennis Hastert, who served as U.S. House speaker from 1999 to 2007 before his political career was overshadowed by sexual abuse allegations, has died at 84.
Dennis Hastert, a former Illinois congressman who became the longest serving Republican speaker of the US House, died Saturday of natural causes at his home while receiving hospice care, Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell said Monday. He was 84.
Hastert became speaker in 1999 after Republicans turned to him following Newt Gingrich’s departure and the resignation of Rep. Bob Livingston.
He presided over the House during President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial and remained speaker until Democrats regained control of the chamber in 2007.
During his leadership, Hastert worked with the George W. Bush administration on major legislation, including large tax cuts and an expansion of prescription drug benefits under Medicare.
His public reputation changed dramatically in 2015, when federal prosecutors accused him of violating banking laws while withdrawing money used to make payments to an individual identified in court documents as Individual A.
Prosecutors later said the payments were connected to allegations that Hastert had sexually abused teenage boys while he was a high school wrestling coach in Illinois.
Hastert coached wrestling for 16 years and led his team to a state championship. Prosecutors said at least four former wrestlers had accused him of sexual abuse dating from 1965 to 1981.
He pleaded guilty to evading banking regulations and was sentenced in 2016 to 15 months in prison. During sentencing, the judge described Hastert as a “serial child molester.”
Hastert expressed shame and acknowledged mistreating some athletes but did not directly refer to sexual abuse.
The scandal also led institutions to sever ties with Hastert. Wheaton College removed his name from a public policy center, while his portrait was removed from a hallway outside the House chamber.
Born in Aurora, Illinois, Hastert earned degrees from Wheaton College and Northern Illinois University. He spent most of his life in Chicago’s western suburbs and is survived by his wife, Jean, and two adult sons.
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