In Wake Of Hastert Case, SNAP Urges Creation Of Hot Line For Abuse Victims
(CBS) -- Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will be arraigned on Thursday. He faces federal charges of trying to conceal large withdrawals from banks and lying to the FBI.
Sources say Hastert was using the money to hide sexual misconduct that happened when he was a high school teacher.
This afternoon, advocates for children who've been sexually abused call the Hastert case a "watershed moment."
We often see them speaking on behalf of those abused by Catholic priests. Today, members of SNAP walked a letter to Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office, urging her to set up a hotline for all adults who were sexually abused as children.
"We want all victims to have a place to report, to find out what services are available and to find healing," Blaine said.
SNAP president Barbara Blaine said Dennis Hastert cases underscores how sexual abuse of a minor can surface many years after it happens.
Prosecutors say the former house speaker tried to conceal large bank withdrawals to hide payoffs to a former student at Yorkville High School where Hastert taught and coached more than 30 years ago.
"This is his own money that he was taking out of the bank. He just did it the wrong way," said CBS 2 legal analyst Irv Miller.
Miller says Hastert could have avoided criminal charges if he had simply hired a lawyer, drawn up a confidential agreement and paid off the former student legally.
"You're compensating someone for past misdeeds," Miller said. "It's a personal injury settlement. Just do it the right way."
Instead, Hastert faces serious charges, including lying to the FBI, which Miller says is "bigger than the crime itself."
We don't yet know what lawyer is representing Hastert or how he will plead in court on Thursday.