House Speaker John Boehner said he is “shocked and saddened” by the indictment of his GOP predecessor, J. Dennis Hastert, of Illinois.
Hastert, 73, was indicted on charges of evading currency reporting requirements in order to conceal $1.7 million in cash payment to someone over past “misconduct.” He’s also charged with lying to the FBI about the purpose of the bank withdrawals.
“The Denny I served with worked hard on behalf of his constituents and the country,” Boehner, R-Ohio, said. “I’m shocked and saddened to learn of these reports.”
Boehner served as majority leader while Hastert was speaker, but only briefly. Nine months after Boehner was elected to the number-two leadership post, the GOP lost the majority and Hastert stepped aside.
More details surfaced Friday about the nature of the misconduct Hastert was paying to conceal.
The New York Times reported Hastert is linked to a decades-old sexual abuse case involving a male individual.
Hastert was a high school teacher and wrestling coach in Yorkville, Ill., from 1965 until 1981.
