Dennis Hastert, disgraced former House speaker, dies at 84
Dennis Hastert, a former U.S. House speaker who represented Illinois for 20 years, died at his home over the weekend. Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell said Monday that the 84-year-old died of natural causes.
Before entering Congress, Hastert taught and coached wrestling in Illinois for 16 years. He served in the House from 1987 to 2007, rose to a senior Republican leadership role and became speaker in 1999, serving longer than any other Republican in that position.
After Republicans lost control of the House in 2006, Hastert left leadership and resigned from Congress the following year. He later worked as a lobbyist and consultant.
A federal investigation led to Hastert pleading guilty in 2015 to violating banking laws through cash withdrawals and lying to the FBI. The withdrawals were connected to payments to a person he had harmed.
During the case, Hastert admitted sexually abusing boys while he coached them. He received a 15-month prison sentence, a fine and an order to take part in a sex offender program; he served 13 months. He was not charged with sexual offenses because the legal time limit had passed.
Key points
- Hastert served in Congress from 1987 to 2007 and became the longest-serving Republican House speaker.
- He died at home at 84 of natural causes, according to the county coroner.
- His 2015 banking conviction followed admissions that he sexually abused boys he coached.