By Jim Anderson/Illinois Radio Network
CHICAGO – Tuesday is supposed to be the day that former U.S. House Speaker Denny Hastert appears in court.
Hastert is charged with structuring – making bank withdrawals just under $10,000 to avoid reporting requirements – and lying to the FBI. He allegedly did this to pay someone $3.5 million to keep quiet about past misconduct, which may have been sex with underage boys while he was a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School.
“It is a sad, sad day for our state that someone who has reached this level of prominence in politics is involved in these allegations,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), noting that the charges are allegations, nothing having been proven in a court of law nor admitted to by Hastert, who has kept quiet since the indictment was announced two weeks ago.
Durbin said U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) was wise to donate to charity a $10,000 campaign contribution from Hastert.
Hastert is due to be arraigned this afternoon in federal court in Chicago.
