The details on the indictment of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, 73, have remained hazy with some notable gaps in the underlying criminal enterprise alleged in the complaint. The theory is that Hastert was paying millions to a blackmailer and tried to hide the payment through “structuring” of withdrawing less than $10,000 to avoid reporting to the federal government. What is interesting however is that the underlying alleged blackmailer has not been charged. There is also the question of the subject of the earlier “misconduct” and whether it could be charged. Some offenses like child molestation can be charged many years after the fact. Hastert was indicted on two counts for charged with lying to the F.B.I. and the structuring of withdrawals, both carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Hastert is accused of structuring the withdrawal of $925,000 in cash and then lying to the FBI about the withdrawals. The FBI says that Hastert met with an unnamed individual in 2010 and discussed “prior misconduct.” It must have been pretty serious “misconduct” if the parties agreed on the payment of $3.5 million “in order to compensate for and conceal his prior misconduct against Individual A.”
From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew a total of approximately $1.7 million in cash from various bank accounts and provided it to this unnamed individual. When the bank raised questions in 2012 about the large withdrawals, Hastert reportedly reduced the withdrawals through structuring. In April 2014, Hastert allegedly lied about the money and said he did not trust banks and was keeping the case — when he was giving the money to this individual.
Hastert has been working with the lobbying and law firm of Dickstein Shapiro LLC.
It is curious to have so little information on the underlying facts and “misconduct” or the status of the person receiving such money. Perhaps we will learn more in the coming days about the nature of the misconduct and why the individual was not charged if this were a case of blackmail.
Source: New York Times
I. Annie
My dear Rick, it’s a figment of your imagination that anyone likened the entire Republican Party to pedophiles.
It’s a strawman that I claimed anyone likened the entire Republican party to pedophiles, a lunacy that actually requires them to actually be pedophiles. Even Annie is not willing to openly admit such an absurd idea.
In reality I pointed out that anyone who believes the entire Republican party are hypocrites because of one member’s pedophilia must believe that these hypocrites supported that pedophilia in some way. After all the definition of hypocrisy is an action that conflicts with a stated or understood principle. I can understand how anyone believes Republican principles are against pedophilia, the break is identifying the action that breaks this principle. Annie professes to believe this action is joining a party where a member has engaged in pedophilia, but revealingly disclaims the idea that joining a party where a member has engaged in anti-gay activity thus renders the other members hypocrites for claiming to support gay rights.
The only clear conclusion to draw is that Annie believes the definition of hypocrisy varies based upon whether she agrees with your positions.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150531/news/150539847/
“Wheaton College announced Sunday it is removing the name of former U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert from its Center for Economics, Government, and Public Policy named in his honor.”
“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,” according to a statement released by college officials Sunday. “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.'”
**********************
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Max,
Yes he did act oddly, didn’t he? I wonder why?
Annie,
Speaking of enablers and Speakers…
… The Page scandal. Denny’s blind eye enabled it. Just sayin’.
Max, the chickens have come home to roost. They don’t seem to like the chicken poo and flying feathers that comes with it. Too bad.
Annie,
Like I said earlier… It really is truly amazing how the Duggars always found the enabler who would turn the blind eye to their son’s behavior and their daughter’s distress… first the child porn cop, then the sexual harasser faith healer. They just couldn’t find the one person who said this is criminal(!)? Oddly convenient.
Now we have Hastert… as I posted the quote above, a man in a line of men engaging in improprieties chasing other men’s improprieties…
They don’t call it ‘Congress’ for nothin’. Just sayin’…
Annie,
Enablers got to need enablers…
Here’s Tony Perkins, director of the hate group, Family Research Council, writing for Barbwire, claiming that banning ‘reparative therapy’ will allow gays to recruit children… Just last December.
COUNCIL REFUSES COUNSEL FOR KIDS
http://barbwire.com/2014/12/10/council-refuses-counsel-kids/
Max, how many times have we heard disgusting slurs against gay people on this very blog’s comments sections from conservative commenters? Squeeky, Pogo, The Great Stanton, Trooper York, just to name a few. Did other conservatives defend gay people and chastise those who used such vile descriptions against them? Sadly no.
Inga – I have defended gays and I am pretty conservative.
Rick,
Lastly, let’s not forget the long shot preacher/candidate Mike “stand by your man” Huckabee…
https://www.facebook.com/mikehuckabee/posts/10152994543137869
Annie,
Tell me about it… GAYMAFIA…
Rick
The man featured regularly says this stuff… from March of this year…
Peter LaBarbera: Gays Following Hitler In ‘Recruiting’ Children
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/peter-labarbera-gays-following-hitler-recruiting-children
But let’s not stop with Pete…
From March last year…
Billy Graham’s Son: Gays ‘Recruit’ Children Through Adoption
http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/03/26/billy-grahams-son-gays-recruit-children-through-adoption
I’m only allowed two links per post… I could continue demonstrating how these ideologues really screw with people.
RTC said…
Of course, if you abandoned the Democratic Party in 2004, your judgment is suspect.
Sorry, I stuck to it until they made John Kerry the POTUS candidate, even though many veterans were against it. Now I am an Independent, leaning Republican, social liberal & fiscal conservative…but if you noticed one of my remarks on another thread I continued to vote for John Conyers Jr as my Congressman until the districts were changed. I vote for the person now, if I can…lately its been for the least worst too often, national, state, and local. There’s little chance (zero) I’ll vote for Hillary Clinton. So be it.
Max, daily we hear commenters like Pogo blaming the entire liberal, Progressive, Feminist, Gay Rights movement for all the ills of the world, from unsportsmanlike conduct in hockey games to the rude crass men at a sporting event when speaking to a woman reporter. When one of their own is on the hypocritical hot seat they seem to just fall apart. What drove Hastert to molest underage boys, while he was in a position of authority over them? Liberal Progressives of course! Or maybe his own uncontrolled impulses.
Inga – play the victim card much, geez.
Rick
As a gay man, I’ve stood accused as being a pedophile just because I’, gay.
I know what that feels like. Now, I wasn’t standing charged with any crime and my name wasn’t drug through the mud and didn’t lose my livelihood, but I have been called one both by strangers and by family members. Just because I’m gay. These people have been ‘programed’ by a line of brainwashing that involves faith and politics. Pure and simple.
I agree, pedophilia is ugly and wrong.
What’s worse is being on the receiving end of the accusation brought forth and promulgated by people who hide their own truths so as to hang them upon innocent peoples… Now THAT’S worse, IMO!
Max-1 – right now I do not care what you are, but Hastert is NOT a pedophile.
My dear Rick, it’s a figment of your imagination that anyone likened the entire Republican Party to pedophiles. You are again busy building that straw man and honestly the argument is getting to be boring.
Annie,
Its worse… they claim homo-sex-you-alls are the child molesters…
Meanwhile the Family Research Council employed one.
Here’s a good statement on some brief history…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/05/29/if-i-understand-the-history-correctly/
I. Annie
A single mother who chastises other single mothers for doing exactly what she’s been doing (or even worse) in secret IS a hypocrite. See how that works?
I agree. All pedophiles who rail against pedophilia are hypocrites. Personally the actual pedophilia bothers me more than the hypocrisy but apparently you have different priorities.
The issue at hand though is how people who aren’t pedophiles are guilty of pedophilia. Apparently that’s a process understood only by you.
Annie,
It’s never EVER sin when their Christ forgives them for their sins, you see?
This way, they will have eternal forgiveness for whatever sins they may go onto commit.
It’s the circle of forgiveness…
So, if they are ‘saved’ why is it they are still sinners?
Maybe this is why Jesus condemned the religious for the mote in their own eyes while they condemn their brother for his own mote?
Republicans, against gays in the military and against same sex marriage, while they tried to deny civil rights to gay people they were molesting teenagers and chasing pages in the halls of Congress.
Inga –
Now I have the vision of John McCain molesting teenagers and chasing pages in the halls of Congress. Thanks. I am going to have to wash my mind now.