Ex-Speaker Hastert Ordered to Report to Prison Next Month to Serve Sentence in Hush-Money Case

Dennis Hastert has been ordered to report to prison next month to serve his sentence for a hush-money scheme attempting to cover up decades of sexual abuse. 

Hastert was ordered to report to prison by 2 p.m. on June 22, marking the start of the 74-year-old's 15-month sentence for breaking federal banking rules in the hush-money scheme. The order does not say where Hastert will serve the sentence. 

The former U.S. House Speaker also paid a $250,000 fine as part of his sentencing.

Hastert's lead attorney says he won't appeal his conviction or prison term in the case, which centered on allegations that he sexually abused students decades ago when he was a high school wrestling coach in Illinois.

Judge Thomas Durkin branded the Republican "a serial child molester" at his April 27 sentencing, where Durkin imposed a punishment that went beyond federal guidelines.

Hastert pleaded guilty to violating banking law as he sought to pay $3.5 million to one victim to keep him quiet about the abuse.

Durkin justified the tougher sentence by pointing to Hastert's alleged abuse of at least four boys at Yorkville High.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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