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You are here: Home / Scandal / Hastert to Answer Hush Money Charges

Hastert to Answer Hush Money Charges

June 9, 2015 at 6:57 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), “who has been publicly silent and out of sight since he was indicted late last month, is to appear in court here on Tuesday afternoon for his arraignment,” the New York Times reports.

Politico: “A reassessment of Hastert’s leadership began in earnest following his indictment two weeks ago. In hindsight, it now seems clear his avuncular persona — even political enemies couldn’t work up much animus against the former teacher and wrestling instructor known as ‘The Coach’ — served to deter broader scrutiny of congressional misdeeds, including an Illinois land deal of his own that netted him millions.”

“A man hiding secrets like Hastert’s had a natural incentive to avoid calling out others, a lesson the speaker could have learned from his predecessor Newt Gingrich, whose efforts to take down Democrats from Jim Wright to Bill Clinton inspired his enemies to dig for — and uncover — scandals of his own.”

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

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