Dennis Hastert – how can this happen?
This past Friday, Federal Prosecutors announced that former House Speaker Dennis Hastert sexually abused at least four boys when he coached wrestling at a high school in Illinois.
As shocking as the allegations that appeared in the prosecutor’s sentencing memorandum was the prosecutions’ request. Six months in prison!
Although the current case concerns $3.5 million in hush money the speaker paid to his victims and hid from the government, it’s hard to imagine that all the former speaker of the house faces is six months.
Below, are the comments that Dennis Hastert himself made in 2006, at the time Florida Senator Mark Foley was caught sending underage pages explicit text messages:
“The instant messages, reportedly between Congressman Foley and a former page sent in 2003, are vile and repulsive to me… When they were released, Congressman Foley resigned. And I’m glad he did, if he had not, I would have demanded his expulsion from the House of Representatives.
“…as the Speaker of the House, I am disgusted that Congressman Foley broke that trust. Anyone who had knowledge of these vile instant messages should have turned them over to authorities immediately so that kids could be protected.
“Yesterday I sent a letter to the Attorney General requesting he investigate to what extent any federal laws were violated by Congressman Foley…I also sent a letter yesterday to Gov. Bush, requesting an investigation to determine what state laws were violated.
“Since I’ve been Speaker we have moved aggressively to insure the safety of these kids…
Six months, while consensual Romeo and Juliet “offenders” get years. Great!
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I read a mainstream media news article last week that described Mr Hastert as wanting the charges to be dropped altogether because the public accusations of a sexual crime were already enough punishment, tarnishing his career, personal life, etc.
Somehow, I think he probably gets it now. Who knows, maybe he’ll join up with FAC and RSOL. Anybody have his email?
where do you see that?
I’d love to have it
Sorry, wanted probation, not charges dropped (darn deteriorating memory!!). This is not the article I had read, but covers the same event:
http://reverbpress.com/justice/gop-child-molester_hastert-wants-probation-for-sex-abuse/
The first quote is really the one that gets me:
Mr. Hastert recognizes that his misconduct is the cause of this public disapproval and close scrutiny, and does not seek to shift responsibility. But as his counsel, we respectfully request that the Court consider the humiliation and isolation that Mr. Hastert and his family have already suffered when determining his sentence
Scott/ FAC
That is exactly what I was referring to. I have a couple links on my phone b/c I thought it funny that his lawyers offer of mitigating circumstances were his humiliation and isolation. Yeah, Hastert, join the club!
Yeah, JR! I caught that after I went back and found the quote. 😀
Also for your reading pleasure, the whole argument submitted by his lawyers:
http://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000153-ed9a-d0e4-af73-efbb4acb0001
I wanna claim humiliation and stress as my reason to have my sentence reversed, too! Think I’ll be successful?
Another thing: I’ve read a handful of stories about Hasert. I haven’t seen one (not one) mentioning him being required to register. Has anyone seen a story mentioning this? Every person caught in a sting is plastered all over the net screaming for SO registration.
Just sayin’
The statute of limitations has expired… but hang in… FAC wants to address this.
They all point the fingers at each other yet they are all guilty of the same thing. The very people who both make and enforce the laws. Political hypocrites and I’m surely confident there are more authority figures from both politicians to police officers with loads of skeletons in their closets.