“There’s nobody here who derives any pleasure from reading about the former speaker’s legal troubles at this point.”
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Dennis Hastert
John Dennis Hastert is an American former politician and convicted felon who served as the 51st speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Illinois's 14th congressional district from 1987 to 2007 and was the 6th longest-serving speaker in history, and the longest serving Republican. In 2016, he was sentenced to 15 mont…
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business · American politician (born 1942) · politician · teacher · coach · businessperson · lobbyist · also Dennis Hastert, Denny Hastert, John Dennis Hastert, John Dennis "Denny" Hastert, Hastert
Born 2 January 1942 · Q553626
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Speaker Dennis Hastert in Support of a House Resolution of Appreciation for Participants in Operation Iraqi Freedom
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2026· 5 entries
“what I did was wrong and I regret it ... I took advantage of them.”
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“Mr. Hastert acknowledges that as a young man, he committed transgressions for which he is profoundly sorry. He earnestly apologizes to his former students, family, friends, previous constituents and all others affected by the harm his actions have caused.”
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“was the victim of extortion by Individual A for false molestation accusations.”
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“This is Denny Hastert and welcome to my blog. This is new to me. I can”
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2016· 2 entries
Was sentenced to 15 months in prison for financial offenses related to the sexual abuse of teenage boys, although he was never convicted of any sexual crimes
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At a court hearing in February 2016, Hastert's attorney said that Hastert "nearly died" from the blood infection.
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2015· 7 entries
ABC News' Good Morning America aired an interview with Jolene Reinboldt Burdge, the sister of Steve Reinboldt, who was the student equipment manager of the wrestling team at Yorkville High School when Hastert was the wre
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Kirk announced that he would donate to charity a $10,000 contribution made to Kirk's 2010 Senate campaign by Hastert's Keep Our Mission PAC
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After Hastert had been indicted for illicitly structuring financial transactions, two people briefed on the evidence from the case stated that "Individual A"—the man to whom Hastert was making payments—had been sexually
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Following his indictment, Hastert resigned from the board, effective immediately
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Yorkville Community Unit School District 115 released a statement reading: The District was first made aware of any concerns regarding Mr
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Senator Mark Kirk, Republican of Illinois, who served in the House throughout Hastert's tenure as speaker, released a statement reading: "Anyone who knows Denny is shocked and confused by the recent news
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A seven-page indictment of Hastert by a federal grand jury was unsealed in the U
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2014· 1 entry
Hastert's firm Dickstein Shapiro and the lobbying firm of former House majority leader-turned lobbyist Dick Gephardt split a $1
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2013· 6 entries
“Hastert denied that he had engaged in any improper conduct. Civil lawsuit alleging personal use of publicly funded office In 2013, Hastert”
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The FBI and IRS began investigating Hastert's cash withdrawals, and in early 2015 they had learned about the "hush money" agreement between "Individual A" and Hastert
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Leading to the federal indictment in 2015
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Hastert's former business partner J
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After leaving office, Hastert disowned the policy, saying that "there is no Hastert Rule" and that the "rule" was more of a principle that the majority party should follow its own policies
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And 2014, Hastert lobbied on climate change issues on behalf of Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company; in 2015, Hastert "switched sides" and lobbied for Fuels America, the ethanol industry group
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2012· 2 entries
After Hastert had departed from Congress, the highway project was killed after federal regulators retracted the 2008 approval of an environmental impact statement for the project and agreed to an Illinois Department of T
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However, a Chicago Tribune investigation found that "a secretary in the ex-speaker's government office used email to coordinate some of his private business meetings and travel, and conducted research on one proposed ven
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2011· 1 entry
That "he had knowledge that Hastert was using federally funded offices, staff, office supplies and vehicles for personal business ventures
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2010· 1 entry
To look for a financial adviser to come up with an annuity plan that would "generate a substantial cash payout each year
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2009· 1 entry
Regarding Hastert's receipt of federal funds while a lobbyist
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2008· 1 entry
Hastert also joined the board of directors of Chicago-based futures exchange company CME Group (which had been formed from the merger of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Board of Trade), where he earned more t
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2007· 4 entries
Hastert submitted his resignation
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Hastert delivered a farewell speech on the House floor, emphasizing the need for civility in politics; Hastert's speech was followed by remarks from Pelosi praising Hastert's service
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Career landmark: United States representative (2007–2007).
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Following the 2006 elections, Hastert declined to seek the position of minority leader, resigned his House seat, and became a lobbyist at the firm of Dickstein Shapiro
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2006· 7 entries
Awarded Dr. Nathan Davis Award for United States Representatives (2006).
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Hastert became the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House in history, surpassing the record previously held by fellow Illinoisan Joseph Gurney Cannon, who held the post from November 1903 to March 1911
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Hastert became embroiled in controversy over his championing of a $207 million earmark (inserted in the 2005 omnibus highway bill) for the Prairie Parkway, a proposed expressway running through his district
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Hastert visited Iraq at Bush's request and supported a supplemental Iraq War spending bill
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Burdge unsuccessfully attempted to bring the allegations against Hastert to light
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Hastert (along with then-Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi) criticized an FBI search of Representative William J
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In 2006, Hastert was hospitalized for cellulitis (a type of bacterial skin infection).
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2005· 4 entries
Hastert became the first Speaker to author a blog
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Following Hurricane Katrina, Hastert told an Illinois newspaper that "It looks like a lot of that place [referring to New Orleans] could be bulldozed" and stated that spending billions of dollars to rebuild the devastate
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Career landmark: United States representative (2005–2007).
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DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on charges of campaign finance violations
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2004· 3 entries
Awarded Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (2004).
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Hoyer called upon Hastert to initiate a House Ethics Committee investigation into statements by Representative Nick Smith, a Republican of Michigan, who stated that groups and lawmakers had offered support for his son's
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Hastert again feuded with McCain amid conflict between the House and the Senate over the 2005 budget
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2003· 4 entries
Hastert publicly called for legislation to "put repeat child molesters into jail for the rest of their lives"
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Hastert and Bush met privately at the White House about twice a month to discuss congressional developments
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Career landmark: United States representative (2003–2005).
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“a direct connection between Iraq and al-Qaeda”
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2002· 1 entry
Or 2003, asking congressional leadership to intervene
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2001· 5 entries
Awarded Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (2001).
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Awarded honorary citizen of Vilnius (2001).
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Career landmark: United States representative (2001–2003).
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During the debate on the bill, Hastert criticized Republican Senator John McCain, the bill's cosponsor, saying that McCain had "bullied" House Republicans by sending them letters in support of his campaign-finance reform
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And 2003 legislation; and the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which reorganized the government and created the Department of Homeland Security
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2000· 1 entry
Hastert announced he would support an Armenian genocide resolution
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1999· 3 entries
Career landmark: United States representative (1999–2001).
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(at the beginning of Hastert's term) to an all-time high of $29 billion in 2006 (Hastert's last year as speaker)
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Career landmark: Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1999–2007).
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1997· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1997–1999).
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1995· 2 entries
(after the Republicans gained control of the House and Newt Gingrich became Speaker), Hastert became chief deputy whip
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Career landmark: United States representative (1995–1997).
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1993· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1993–1995).
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1992· 1 entry
It was revealed that Hastert had bounced 44 checks during the period under investigation
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1991· 1 entry
Career landmark: United States representative (1991–1993).
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1989· 2 entries
On Edward Madigan's unsuccessful race against Gingrich for minority whip
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Career landmark: United States representative (1989–1991).
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1987· 3 entries
With a net worth of no more than $270,000
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Career landmark: United States representative (1987–1989).
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Career landmark: United States representative (1987–2007).
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1986· 1 entry
And was re-elected every two years until he retired in 2007
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1980· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1980–1986).
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1979· 1 entry
Eight years after Reinboldt's high school graduation in 1971, her brother had told her that he had been sexually abused by Hastert throughout his four years of high school
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1973· 1 entry
Hastert married a fellow teacher at the high school, Jean Kahl, with whom he had two sons
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1967· 1 entry
Studied at Northern Illinois University, Master of Science (1967).
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1965· 1 entry
Became the school's first student to be killed in Vietnam
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1964· 2 entries
Hastert graduated from Wheaton with a B
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Studied at Wheaton College, Bachelor of Arts (1964).
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1942· 2 entries
In Aurora, Illinois, the eldest of two sons of Naomi (née Nussle) and Jack Hastert
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Born 1942-01-02.
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1903· 1 entry
“It looks like a lot of that place [referring to New Orleans] could be bulldozed”
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