Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has reportedly reached a plea deal in the federal case charging him with engaging in a hush money scheme as a means to hide his alleged sexual misconduct with a former student.
Hastert is expected to plead guilty at a scheduled October 28 court date to having illegally withdrawn the hush money in a manner that would allow him to avoid required bank reporting requirements. He then allegedly lied to the FBI when they inquired about the cash withdrawals. The former politician allegedly agreed to pay a person named only as "Individual A" in the indictment $3.5 million to keep quiet about his sexual misconduct, according to federal prosecutors. The misconduct allegedly took place when Hastert was a teacher at Yorkville High School back in the 1960s and 1970s.
The plea deal means Hastert will avoid a trial, during which details of the alleged sexual misconduct would likely be unearthed. Hastert will, however, be required to appear in court later this month to give his guilty plea.