Judge To Continue To Preside In Hastert Case
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Federal judge who donated to Dennis Hastert will remain on former speaker's hush-money case.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin Judge Durkin acknowledged some past ties to Hastert during an arraignment on Tuesday and disqualified himself from the case unless both sides agreed to file a waiver allowing him to continue before a deadline of 4 p.m. Thursday.
Hastert's laywers agreed to the waiver on Wednesday, and U.S. prosecutors followed on Thursday.
Durkin admitted to making two contributions to Hastert's campaign before becoming a judge but said he has never met Hastert prior to the arraignment and that he has "no doubt I can be impartial in this matter."
He also acknowledged he once worked with Hastert's son, Ethan, at a law firm, but said they are not friends, have not seen each other in years, and have not discussed the case.
Hastert pleaded not guilty to charges he paid hush money to conceal wrongdoing before he entered politics, and lied to the FBI when questioned about the money during Tuesday's arraignment.
Federal prosecutors have alleged Hastert agreed to pay a total of $3.5 million to that acquaintance, identified only as "Individual A," to cover up past misconduct. Although the charges do not specify the misconduct, sources have said Hastert was making the payments to conceal allegations he sexually abused a student while he was a teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.
The indictment accused Hastert of illegally structuring bank withdrawals to hide $1.7 million in payments and lying to the FBI when questioned about the banking activity.