FORMER U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT DIES AT 84

YORKVILLE, IL — Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican who rose from a high school teacher and wrestling coach to one of the most powerful offices in Washington before his legacy was consumed by a sexual-abuse scandal, has died at age 84.

Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell announced Hastert’s death. The coroner’s office said the death did not fall under its jurisdiction after a review of the circumstances and consultation with hospice personnel, leaving certification of the cause of death to the attending hospice physician.

Hastert represented Illinois in the U.S. House beginning in 1987 and became Speaker in 1999, serving until 2007. His tenure included the September 11 attacks and the anthrax scare, along with passage of major legislation including the Patriot Act and No Child Left Behind.

His public career was later overshadowed by a federal criminal case. In 2015, Hastert pleaded guilty to illegally structuring cash withdrawals to avoid federal bank-reporting requirements. Prosecutors said the money was used for hush-money payments to a former student-athlete whom Hastert had coached years earlier in Yorkville.

Hastert acknowledged sexually abusing the former student. He was not prosecuted for the underlying abuse because of the statute of limitations and instead was convicted on the financial charge. A federal judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison, and Hastert served 13 months before his release.

Before entering Congress, Hastert taught history and government and coached wrestling at Yorkville High School. He later served in the Illinois House before winning election to Congress.

Hastert is survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons.