Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84
Hastert died Saturday at his home while receiving hospice care, Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell said Monday. He was 84.
He served as House speaker from 1999 to 2007, becoming the longest-serving Republican in that role. Republicans selected the Illinois lawmaker to replace Newt Gingrich after Gingrich lost party support.
Hastert helped advance President George W. Bush’s agenda, including tax reductions and an expansion of Medicare prescription drug benefits. Before entering politics, he was a history teacher and wrestling coach in Yorkville, Illinois.
In 2015, Hastert faced charges of breaking banking rules while paying money to conceal past misconduct. Prosecutors later said the underlying allegations involved sexual abuse of teenage wrestlers he coached from 1965 to 1981.
Hastert pleaded guilty to evading banking laws and was sentenced in 2016 to more than a year in prison. Prosecutors said he abused at least four team members; the article reports no further legal proceedings following his death.
Key points
- Hastert served as House speaker from 1999 through 2007.
- He died Saturday at 84 while receiving hospice care.
- He served prison time after pleading guilty to evading banking laws amid abuse allegations.