Dennis Hastert Sorry For Harmful Misconduct 'Decades Ago,' Seeks Probation From Judge
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has apologized for harmful misconduct "decades ago" and asked a judge to sentence him to probation on a bank fraud charge.
In court filings, Hastert's attorneys did not acknowledge accusations that Hastert sexually abused a student when he was a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.
"Mr. Hastert recognizes that his misconduct is the cause of this public disapproval and close scrutiny and does not wish to shift responsibility," according to the sentencing request filed by Hastert's attorneys. "We respectfully request that the court consider the humiliation and isolation that Mr. Hastert and his family have already suffered when determining his sentence."
His plea deal with prosecutors recommends a sentence no longer than six months in prison, but a final decision is still up to the judge, and faces a maximum sentence of 5 years.
"I think he is going to get probation, maybe some home confinement to deter others from doing the same thing," said CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller. "I don't think he's going to send him to penitentiary. His medical condition is severe. It's really serious. It's not a joke. He acknowledges what he did in the past. That means a lot to federal judges."
The former speaker has admitted to illegally structuring bank withdrawals in an effort to conceal payments to an unnamed individual in an effort to cover up misconduct from his days as a teacher and wrestling coach in Yorkville.
Hastert admitted he had arranged to pay that person a total of $3.5 million, and took out nearly $1 million from his bank accounts, and tried to hide the withdrawals from banking authorities before he was caught.
That earlier plea agreement did not provide any details on the past misconduct behind the hush money payments, but sources have said Hastert was trying to cover up allegations he sexually abused a student decades ago.