Former Speaker Dennis Hastert Passes Away at 84

Dennis Hastert, the former U.S. House Speaker, died at the age of 84. He served as the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the House.

His death occurred over the weekend at his home. Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell confirmed the cause as natural causes in a press release.

Involvement in Abuse Case

In 2016, Hastert confessed to sexually abusing teenage boys. This misconduct happened during his tenure as a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School many years earlier. During sentencing, a judge referred to him as a ‘serial child molester’ and imposed a $250,000 fine alongside a 15-month prison sentence.

Political Career

Hastert’s political journey included representing Illinois’ 14th Congressional District from 1987 to 2007. He assumed the role of Speaker of the House from 1999 until 2007.

This story continues to evolve and will be updated as more information becomes available.