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Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert abused at least four boys, prosecutors say | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Dennis Hastert abused at least four boys while he was a wrestling coach, prosecutors have alleged. | The former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Dennis Hastert abused at least four boys while he was a wrestling coach, prosecutors have alleged. |
They are calling for a six-month sentence for Mr Hastert, the former Republican congressman who led the US House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. | They are calling for a six-month sentence for Mr Hastert, the former Republican congressman who led the US House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. |
Mr Hastert has been accused of agreeing to pay an individual $3.5m (£2.5m) in ‘hush money’ to cover up sex abuse which took place when the victim was 14. | Mr Hastert has been accused of agreeing to pay an individual $3.5m (£2.5m) in ‘hush money’ to cover up sex abuse which took place when the victim was 14. |
He pleaded guilty of evading US banking laws and lying to the FBI in October and is due to be sentenced for those offences on 27 April. | He pleaded guilty of evading US banking laws and lying to the FBI in October and is due to be sentenced for those offences on 27 April. |
Details of the abuse allegations were filed in court on Friday, according to the Associated Press. | Details of the abuse allegations were filed in court on Friday, according to the Associated Press. |
Three wrestlers who were coached by Mr Hastert and a student manager have claimed that he sexually abused them several decades ago. | Three wrestlers who were coached by Mr Hastert and a student manager have claimed that he sexually abused them several decades ago. |
One of the victims told prosecutors the abuse occurred in a motel room on the way home from wrestling camp, while two others say that Mr Hastert performed sex acts on them when they were 14 and 17 years old in a high school locker room. | One of the victims told prosecutors the abuse occurred in a motel room on the way home from wrestling camp, while two others say that Mr Hastert performed sex acts on them when they were 14 and 17 years old in a high school locker room. |
Last year the former House Speaker was indicted for “withdrawing cash in increments of less than $10,000 to evade currency transaction reporting requirements because he wanted his agreement to compensate [an individual] to remain secret so as to cover up his past misconduct". | Last year the former House Speaker was indicted for “withdrawing cash in increments of less than $10,000 to evade currency transaction reporting requirements because he wanted his agreement to compensate [an individual] to remain secret so as to cover up his past misconduct". |
Mr Hastert served as Speaker longer than any other Republican and pushed a number of anti-gay measures, including a motion to amend the US Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. | Mr Hastert served as Speaker longer than any other Republican and pushed a number of anti-gay measures, including a motion to amend the US Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. |
His portrait has since been removed from the House of Representatives in the US Congress, according to the BBC. | His portrait has since been removed from the House of Representatives in the US Congress, according to the BBC. |
“Mr Hastert is deeply sorry and apologised for his misconduct that occurred decades ago and the resulting harm he caused to others,” Mr Hastert’s lawyers wrote earlier this week in a sentencing memo asking for Mr Hastert to only serve probation. | “Mr Hastert is deeply sorry and apologised for his misconduct that occurred decades ago and the resulting harm he caused to others,” Mr Hastert’s lawyers wrote earlier this week in a sentencing memo asking for Mr Hastert to only serve probation. |
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