Disgraced former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert will face a jury trial in May as part of a lawsuit from a former student seeking the hush money he said he was promised following alleged sexual abuse from Hastert when he was a wrestling coach.
A judge on Wednesday set a preliminary jury trial date of May 20.
The trial will decide whether the unnamed “James Doe” will receive the remaining $1.8 million he says he’s still owed from Hastert in the hush-money agreement that led to Hastert’s conviction.
“I’m hoping for whatever is in the best interest of my client. We are prepared to go forward with a jury trial and seek whatever justice there is to be had,” said Attorney Peter Evans, who is representing James Doe. “He’s hopeful that there’s light at the end of the tunnel and that we’re nearing the end of this process.”
There is still talk of a potential settlement in the case, with Evans saying “it’s an open topic.”
Hastert had to sit for questions by Doe’s attorney last fall. They say he contradicted statements he made at his criminal trial and want to question his criminal attorneys about those answers.
Hastert was released from a Rochester, Minnesota prison in July, after serving over a year for violation of federal banking laws, crimes associated with the hush money payment. He is now believed to be residing at his longtime home in Yorkville.
