Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted on Federal Bank Charges

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted on Federal Bank Charges

Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Thursday, 28 May 2015 06:02 PM

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/hastert-indicted-bank-charges/2015/05/28/id/647348/

Federal prosecutors announced bank-related charges against former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert on Thursday, accusing the 73-year-old Illinois Republican of withdrawing $952,000 in cash in a way that evaded the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He's also accused of lying to the FBI.

Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago.

The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment with a person at Hastert's Washington, D.C., office. It was not immediately returned. Hastert did not immediately return a message left on his cellphone seeking comment, or respond to an email.

From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew a total of approximately $1.7 million in cash from various bank accounts and provided it to a person identified only as Individual A, according to the indictment.

In December last year, "Hastert falsely stated that he was keeping the cash" when questioned by the FBI, the prosecutor's statement says.

Hastert, a former high school wrestling coach, was a little known lawmaker from suburban Chicago when chosen to succeed conservative Newt Gingrich as speaker. Hastert was picked after favored Louisiana Congressman Bob Livingston resigned following his admission of several sexual affairs.

As speaker, Hastert pushed President George W. Bush's legislative agenda, helping pass a massive tax cut and expanding Medicare prescription drug benefits.

He retired from Congress in 2007 after eight years as speaker, making him the longest-serving Republican House speaker.

Dennis Hastert
J. Dennis Hastert was the U.S. House Speaker, and is a director at the CME Group.

Note: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) was a merged company with the CME Group.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP, and is Craig M. Robinson’s sister.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Penny S. Pritzker is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, a director at the Export-Import Bank of the US, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team.

Jackie Clegg Dodd was the vice chairman & first VP for the Export-Import Bank of the US, and is a director at the CME Group.

John F. Sandner is a director at the CME Group, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was the chairman for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Dennis H. Chookaszian was a director at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), is a director at the CME Group, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration, and her great uncle is Vernon E. Jordan Jr.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

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George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.  

Ben S. Bernanke is a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), was the chairman for the Federal Open Market Committee, and the chairman for the Federal Reserve Board.

Paul A. Volcker was the chairman for the Federal Reserve Board, and a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), a senior counsel for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Daniel R. Glickman was a senior adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP, a director at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), is a director at the CME Group, and a director for the Congressional Program at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) was a merged company with the CME Group.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

J. Dennis Hastert is a director at the CME Group, and was the U.S. House Speaker.

John F. Sandner is a director at the CME Group, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was the chairman for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Dennis H. Chookaszian was a director at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), is a director at the CME Group, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

James S. Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Daniel R. Glickman is a director for the Congressional Program at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director at the CME Group, was a director at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and a senior adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Paul A. Volcker was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and the chairman for the Federal Reserve Board.

John Vincent Weber is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a friend of Newt Gingrich, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Newt Gingrich is a friend of John Vincent Weber, and was the speaker for the U.S. House of Representatives, and had extramarital affair while criticizing president for same Political sex scandals.

Condoleezza Rice is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), Muammar Abu Minyar Al-Qadhafi said he loved her & kept a scrapbook of her photos, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).   

Muammar Abu Minyar Al-Qadhafi said he loved Condoleezza Rice & kept scrapbook of her photos, was the leader of Libya, and Saif Al Islam Al-Qadhafi’s father.

Saif Al Islam Al-Qadhafi is Muammar Abu Minyar Al-Qadhafi’s son, and the chairman for the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation.

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Livingston Group was the lobby firm for the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation.

Robert L. Livingston Jr. (Bob Livingston) is a founding partner for the Livingston Group, a director at the Marine Desalination Systems, Inc., was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and retired from House after disclosure of extramarital affair in his Political sex scandals.  

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James S. Crown is a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Lester Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, was a director at the General Dynamics Corporation, and a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Daniel R. Glickman is a director for the Congressional Program at the Aspen Institute (think tank), a director at the CME Group, was a director at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), and a senior adviser for Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP.

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) was a merged company with the CME Group.

Sidley Austin LLP was the lobby firm for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

J. Dennis Hastert is a director at the CME Group, and was the U.S. House Speaker.