Indicted former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has resigned from the board of advisers of his alma mater Wheaton College’s school of economics and government, which had been named in his honor.
Hastert had already resigned his positions at Washington, D.C. law and lobbying firm Dickstein Shapiro and on futures exchange company CME Group’s board of directors upon his indictment Thursday. Federal prosecutors alleged that from 2010-2014, Hastert made illegal bank withdrawals towards paying out $3.5 million in hush money for “prior misconduct” against an unidentified individual that occurred years earlier.
The J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government, and Public Policy said in a statement Friday that it had received and accepted Hastert’s resignation.
“The Center was established to pursue goals compatible with the mission of Wheaton College. Specifically, the mission statement of the Center is ‘to advance the training of Wheaton College students and the greater community in the understanding of market economies, representative democracies, limited government, and the redeeming effects of the Christian worldview on the practice of business, government and politics,'” the statement read. “The Center will continue to serve these purposes in conformity with the highest ethical and academic standards of excellence and integrity, in conformity with our institution’s identity.”
“The College respects Mr. Hastert’s distinguished public service record and the due process being afforded him pursuant to the charges that have been filed against him,” the statement added.
