Dennis Hastert Hires High-Powered Attorney For Arraignment Tuesday
(CBS) -- Former House Speaker and Suburban Congressman Dennis Hastert's disappearing act is coming to an end.
Hastert hasn't been seen since his indictment 11 days ago, but is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports you can expect a mob scene at the court house, as reporters and cameras crews from all over the country are on their way to Chicago. Special ground rules have been issued by court officials.
Levine reports speculation that Hastert was preparing to plead guilty is now being reconsidered.
Former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins says a guilty plea at the first court appearance is, "Exceedingly rare can't say never but very rare. It's certainly possible and frankly the absence of any communication, public statements by Mr. Hastert's camp suggests that's a possibility, but fact that there's an indictment and there have been frankly some leaks about it, suggests there's not an agreement in place."
Add to that Hastert's attorney, which was revealed Monday. It is not a former colleague but the high-powered Thomas Green, a 40-year Washington D.C. white collar crime specialist and veteran of numerous high profile trials.
Private conversations with one source describe Hastert as "digging in," "in denial," and "angry," Despite the mounting number of alleged victims, that may have prompted authorities to indict Hastert for financial crimes usually reserved for drug dealers.
"My speculation and it is speculation is that the number and extent of victims and extent and type misconduct, even though not chargeable, did factor in to the whole mix and that's what prosecutors are supposed to do, they're supposed to take into account everything and people can argue whether that's appropriate or not but my sense is that's how that office works over there," Collins said.
With FBI agents, we've learned, still contacting possible witnesses and victims, even as tomorrow's arraignment is expected to reveal what happens next: a trial or a possible guilty plea and whether the still secret terms of Hastert's bail include staying away from Individual A, and others who know about the alleged sexual misconduct he was apparently trying to cover up.
