Hastert pleads not guilty to violations in hush-money case

Associated Press

CHICAGO

A haggard Dennis Hastert appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since he was indicted, pleading not guilty to charges that he violated banking rules and lied to the FBI about promising to pay $3.5 million in hush money to conceal misconduct from his days as a high-school teacher.

As his attorney entered the plea on his behalf, the 73-year-old former House speaker stood motionless, his hands folded and eyes downcast at the floor. When the judge asked if he understood he had to submit a DNA sample and could go to jail if he violated any conditions of his release, the man who was once second in the line of succession to the presidency answered quietly, “Yes, sir.”

Hastert has not spoken publicly about the accusations that emerged two weeks ago and quickly raised questions about possible sexual abuse by the once-powerful Republican legislator from Illinois. Neither he nor his attorneys commented after the hearing.

The politician-turned-lobbyist is accused of evading federal banking laws by withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars in smaller amounts and lying about the money when questioned.

At the start of Tuesday’s hearing, Hastert reached into a coat pocket and pulled out his passport, handing it to his attorney, who turned it over to a court official. Surrendering foreign travel documents is a standard condition of release.

The former congressman also was ordered to have any firearms removed from his property by June 23 and was forbidden from having contact with victims or witnesses in the case.

Judge Thomas M. Durkin spent most of the 20-minute hearing explaining how he believed he had no conflict of interest in the matter but then giving attorneys on both sides until Thursday to say if they want him to stay on the case.

The issue came up because Federal Election Commission records indicate he donated $500 to the “Hastert for Congress” campaign in 2002 and $1,000 in 2004. Judge Durkin was an attorney at a Chicago law firm at the time of the contributions.

Judge Durkin cited those donations and that he knew Hastert’s son Ethan. The two worked together in private practice before Judge Durkin became a judge. But, the judge said, he does not consider the younger Hastert “a personal friend.”

To the best of his knowledge, he said, he never met Dennis Hastert.

“I have no doubt I can be impartial in this matter,” the judge said.

After the judge issue is resolved, Judge Durkin or another judge brought in to replace him will lay out a timetable for prosecutors to share evidence with the defense. Hastert could seek a plea deal or take his case to a jury. Any trial probably would be many months away.

Appearing much thinner than in his days as speaker, Hastert walked into court slowly, slightly bent over. He appeared nervous as he sat at a defense table waiting for the hearing to begin, rubbing his chin, biting his lip and occasionally scanning the courtroom benches packed with reporters. At one point, a defense attorney reached over and patted him on the shoulder.