Former House speaker Hastert pleads not guilty to federal charges
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Dennis Hastert. Angela Farley / Shutterstock.com
In his first public appearance since a criminal case against J. Dennis Hastert was announced last month, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives appeared in federal court in Chicago on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty.
The 73-year-old Republican has been working as a lobbyist since he left Congress in 2007. He is accused by the feds of structuring withdrawals from his bank accounts to avoid financial institution reporting requirements concerning withdrawals of $10,000 or more while he allegedly paid some $1.7 million to an unidentified individual. Hastert is also accused of lying to the FBI when approached about the withdrawals.
The Associated Press, The Hill and the New York Times (reg. req.) have stories about today’s arraignment.
Hastert is represented by Thomas Green and John Gallo of Sidley Austin. An earlier Washington Post (reg. req.) article discusses the lawyers’ backgrounds.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert indicted, resigns from Dickstein Shapiro”
Associated Press: “AP News Guide for Hastert’s Arraignment, Legal Issues”
Christian Science Monitor: “Dennis Hastert’s attorney: his Watergate connection”
New York Times (reg. req.): “Dennis Hastert Rushed to Make Money as Payouts Grew”
