Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert molested at least four boys over multiple decades, federal prosecutors alleged on Friday.
Hastert, the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history, had already pled guilty to using hush money to cover up abuse allegations, but Friday was the first time the government detailed the full nature of some of the charges against him in a filing for the judge overseeing Hastert’s sentencing. The allegations stemmed from Hastert’s time as a high school wrestling coach in Illinois between the 1960s and the 1980s.
Here’s how the Associated Press described one of the allegations:
Prosecutors say in the filing that Hastert’s known sexual acts against Individual A and other accusers consist of “intentional touching of minors’ groin area and genitals or oral sex with a minor.”
According to the document, Individual A told prosecutors the abuse occurred in a motel room on the way home from wrestling camp. Hastert, the only adult on the trip, told the 14-year-old that he would stay in his room while about a dozen other boys stayed in a different room. Individual A said Hastert touched him inappropriately after suggesting he would massage a groin injury the boy had.
Hastert’s downfall began after federal agents questioned him about several suspiciously large bank withdrawals, as the Chicago Tribune recounted on Saturday.
Godwin Teachers: We have your back!!!
The above song Every Breath You Take, performed by the Police, is dedicated to the teachers of Godwin Middle School.
I certainly don’t mean to be glib. I know that those teachers are going to work every day looking over their shoulder after the threats that were made to them, simply because they voiced their opinion and concern.
Godwin teachers, you probably have the safest job in Prince William County, right at this moment. The eyes of the county, and probably the state, are on you. The people of Prince William County have all your backs!!!
We are angry that our teachers have been threatened. All of us! Republicans, Democrats, Independents and those of us who could care less about politics.
As a former teacher, I promise you that if I get wind of one iota of retribution to any of you, I own a blog and I will light up someone’s name in lights right here. Yesterday I got nearly 2000 hits. That’s a lot for this blog. I can and will do that again. My paycheck no longer comes from Prince William County and I owe no one anything. In fact, I even know where a few skeletons are buried.
I don’t make threats. I make promises. Don’t threaten our teachers!
You all have a restful weekend, go back in on Monday and teach those kids. May the force be with you!
If you want to speak on my blog, I guarantee your anonymity. Use a fake name. I have your back. Make up a fake email. I have your back. The first comment needs to be approved by me. (settings, you know) After that, you are home free.
Keep doing what you are doing.
Love, Moon