In a court filing in the criminal case against former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL) arising from his alleged sexual abuse of minors when he was a wrestling coach, his lawyers questioned whether an alleged “groin rub” amounted to “sexual misconduct.”
The lawyers said the incident, as described by one of the accusers, “remains ambiguous” and that the accuser in his interview with the authorities said he was “‘not sure if [Dennis] touched [Individual A’s] genitals or brushed his genitals.'”
“While undoubtedly many would consider this episode as described by [Individual A], consisting of a groin rub for a groin pull and a massage, to be misconduct, we are not so certain that the incident qualifies as sexual misconduct, especially for a coach and trainer forty-two years ago,” Hastert’s lawyers wrote.
“Regardless of the characterization, Dennis deeply regrets that the episode occurred,” they added.
The documented was unsealed Wednesday and first reported on by the Chicago Tribune. It was in filed in response to a sentencing recommendation by probation officers that Hastert serve prison time for lying to federal authorities investigating whether he was structuring payments to avoid legal reporting requirements.
In the document, Hastert’s lawyers referred to their previous suggestion that the “groin rub” does not amount to sexual misconduct to argue that characterization should not be used against him in regards to the upcoming sentencing.
According to the Tribune, prosecutors said in a court filing Friday that “Individual A” alleged that Hastert offered to check out a groin pull the individual had been complaining about while staying with Hastert in a motel room on a trip back from wrestling camp. Hastert then had the individual remove his underwear and he began to massage the groin area, the prosecutors’ filing alleged.
Once again, the GOP bedroom police fail. (And remember, in 1998, Hastert wanted to impeach the President over a blow job.) (From an adult woman.)
So basically Denny Hastert has decided to got the catholic bishop route. So much for remorse.
Hastert is a creep and a sexual predator, but this whole breathless “X’s lawyers argued something distasteful” genre needs to die. Criminal defense lawyers defend their clients, and part of that work may involve making arguments that are distasteful. Does that mean that his lawyers are bad people or that they did something wrong by making those arguments? Absolutely not.
(looks at headline)
Alrighty, then. I’m off to the high school.
Actually, a “groin rub” is sexual assault if you include an unwelcome or illegal handi-J in the process. I’m guessing that’s the rub, as it were. Thus the hush money and lawsuits and legal problems, and what have you.
Oh, and GFY, you old pervert!