Wheaton College announced on Sunday that it would remove former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s name from the school’s public policy center, following news of Hastert’s indictment.
The private Christian college located in the western suburbs of Chicago is Hastert’s alma mater. Hastert resigned from the board of the academic research center after he was accused of violating bank law and paying a former student hundreds of thousands of dollars in hush money to conceal a sexual abuse scandal.
Federal prosecutors announced the indictment on Thursday, stating that Hastert avoided detection by banks making cash withdrawals totaling $1.7 million, and lied to the F.B.I. about the purpose of the withdrawals.
Federal authorities told the New York Times, USA Today, and other media that Hastert was paying the former student to remain silent about the sexual abuse that he allegedly committed against the boy when Hastert was an Illinois high school teacher and wrestling coach several decades ago.
Wheaton College released a statement on Sunday regarding the indictment.
“In light of the charges and allegations that have emerged, the College has re-designated the Center as the Wheaton College Center for Economics, Government, and Public Policy at this time.
The Center will continue in its mission ‘to advance the training of Wheaton College students and the greater community in the understanding of market economies, representative democracies, limited government, and the redeeming effects of the Christian worldview on the practice of business, government and politics.’”
