JUST IN: Ex-Republican Congressman and House Speaker Dennis Hastert Dead at 84

(Christian K. Lee/AP photo)

Former Congressman Dennis Hastert, a Republican leader whose career ended in disgrace when he was accused of molesting five boys, has died.

Hastert, who served as House speaker from 1999 to 2o07, died over the weekend at the age of 84, according to the Kendall County Coroner’s Office.

His cause of death was listed as natural causes.

Hastert’s career ended in disgrace when five men came forward to accuse him of molestation during his time as a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in Illinois in the 1960s.

Among the allegations against Hastert was that he regularly pulled up a “‘Lazyboy’-type chair in direct view of the shower stalls in the locker room where he sat while the boys showered,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time.

In 2015, Hastert was charged with a felony for securing $3.5 million in so-called hush money payments to victims and cover up his crimes.

He could not be charged with sexual misconduct because the statute of limitations had lapsed.

During a subsequent court hearing, Illinois Northern District Judge Thomas M. Durkin called Hastert a “serial child molester.”

In 2016, he was convicted of deceptively collecting payouts for his victims, and sentenced to 15 months in prison.

This is a developing story and has been updated.

The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
The single summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting from both sides of the aisle. Subscribe now!