Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) said in a court filing Wednesday that he was “deeply sorry” for decades-old misconduct and “prepared to accept responsibility” for his actions.
A sentencing memo filed by Hastert’s lawyers, in which they asked for probation, did not specify the “unfortunate and harmful incidents he caused decades ago.”
Last year Hastert pleaded guilty in the federal hush-money case, which stemmed from Hastert paying a person identified only as “Individual A” millions of dollars to cover up prior misconduct. Several news outlets later reported, citing federal law enforcement sources, that the money was compensation for sexual abuse of a former male student at the Illinois high school where Hastert once taught.
“First and foremost, Mr. Hastert is deeply sorry and apologizes for his misconduct that occurred decades ago and the resulting harm he caused to others,” the filing read. “He regrets that he resorted to structuring the withdrawal of his money from banks in an effort to prevent the disclosure of that misconduct.”
The filing stated that Hastert apologized to “family, friends, former constituents, and all others affected by his misconduct” and that he was prepared to take responsibility for his actions and receive the court’s sentence.
Hastert’s lawyers further argued that their client’s health had declined after enduring public “shaming and humiliation of an unprecedented degree.”
Hastert’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 27.
This post has been updated.
