Former speaker was handed down a 15 month prison sentence today for bank fraud related to hush-money he paid to boys he sexually abused as a high school teacher and wrestling coach.

It sickens me that the national media has refused to cover this story at all, even though Hastert was second in line to the Presidency as Speaker and was one of the longest serving Speakers ever. If I remember correctly, it was Hastert that got the Iraqi War resolution passed in the House.

What about interrogating and investigating him during the time he was Speaker? How many boys did he sexually abuse then? I guess we'll never know, cause such an investigation might expose other dirty D.C. politicians.

Another Illinois politician added to the "Wall of Shame" along with Blago, Ryan and Rostenkowski.

far be it from me to defend a sexual predator, but the sentence is complete bs for the crime of bank fraud. This isn't getting Al Capone for tax evasion. This is getting Al Capone for jay walking.

far be it from me to defend a sexual predator, but the sentence is complete bs for the crime of bank fraud. This isn't getting Al Capone for tax evasion. This is getting Al Capone for jay walking.

I'm sure you're more plugged into this than I am, but I have to think there was some kind of behind the scenes deal where he got less time if he accepted the sex offender treatment. Otherwise, why would his lawyer allow that? One would think he'd be screaming that this wasn't a charge on sex offenses.

More than that, this is an abuse of the intention of the "structuring" law. There was no tax evasion here, as I understand it.

It sickens me that the national media has refused to cover this story at all

This does seem odd. The article I read had the judge go over the deal agreed to. He stated it was due to the sexual abuses and they had victims testify at the sentencing hearing. Is that normal for that to happen in a money federal case? I assume they can appeal the sentence on those grounds.

As for the original crime I did see what was mentioned about the 9/11 money thing nabbing him. I do not get either way why you should be in trouble for paying money to people for whatever reason.

He didn't get in trouble for the sexual abuse or banking. You can make transfers of $10K without consent of the government. However, the law requires institutions to notify the government of any movement over $10K. Hastert was making movements of $9,999 in a clear attempt to circumnavigate reporting. The FBI questioned him on it and he lied about the money.

He is being sentenced for lying.

If he had said, I banged kids while I was a teacher and am now paying them off, he would not have been in any trouble.

So you see what the government did: they are bootstrapping the sexual crime onto a rather innocuous crime of lying to an investigator. If prosecutors had played this straight by making no mention of the sexual crime and only telling the judge we are here because of a lie to an investigator during an informal interview regarding a run of the mill white collar bookkeeping matter, the judge would have given him probation and nothing more.

The US Attorney's office paid my way through college so I applaud them evey day.

I "slipped" in the post office.

This does seem odd. The article I read had the judge go over the deal agreed to. He stated it was due to the sexual abuses and they had victims testify at the sentencing hearing. Is that normal for that to happen in a money federal case? I assume they can appeal the sentence on those grounds.

As for the original crime I did see what was mentioned about the 9/11 money thing nabbing him. I do not get either way why you should be in trouble for paying money to people for whatever reason.

Is this the highest-ranking government official to go to the can for whatever reason? It's gotta be.

The ends justify the means, .

The Hastert case begs the question why there is a Statute of Limitation on sexual crimes? Just because time has passed doesn't make Hastert any less guilty.

Sexual crimes, particularly on a minor, should be in the same category as murder: no statute of limitations.

Victim#1 testified that the incident ruined his life for having had to live with that terrible memory. It should be Hastert's turn to have his life be ruined, or what's left of it.

Same thing with Bill Cosby.

I'm just glad this guy ain't coaching your children in rasslin or you 20 years ago... He's a bad and dangerous man to children..the more people than know the better..agree to disagree.

Disagree all you want. You are wrong.

The means are what makes the US the US

You're thinking like lawyer, I'm thinking like a human.