Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Dies at 84

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert died at his home over the weekend at age 84, the Kendall County coroner said Monday. Coroner Jacquie Purcell attributed the death to natural causes. An account of the coroner’s statement said Hastert was receiving hospice care. Hastert, a Republican from Illinois, served as speaker from 1999 to 2007 and was the longest-serving Republican to hold the post. He represented Illinois in Congress from 1987 until resigning in 2007, after Democrats won control of the House. He later worked as a lobbyist and consultant. His political career was overshadowed by a federal case involving cash withdrawals and payments to a former student. Hastert pleaded guilty in 2015 to a banking offense related to structuring withdrawals, and in 2016 a federal judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison. He served 13 months and was released in 2017. The reports say he was not charged with sexual abuse. Prosecutors said Hastert had abused teenage boys while coaching wrestling at a high school in Illinois. The allegations concerned conduct dating from his years as a coach, before his election to Congress.