The attorney for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert continues to maintain silence over his reasons for asking for a delay in Hastert’s hush money trial which was to begin Nov. 18.
Attorney John Ellis requested the delay on Tuesday, promising to formalize the request in a motion to be filed Wednesday.
But when that motion was filed, Ellis provided no explanation.
“An issue has arisen as to the Defendant’s ability to proceed with the trial in this matter on November 18, 2019,” Ellis wrote. “Defendant requests that the Court strike the current trial date and reschedule it for a date that is available to the parties and the court.”
As NBC 5 reported Tuesday, Hastert has been undergoing treatment at a Sandwich, Illinois, nursing home for an undisclosed illness. WSPY radio in Plano reported that Hastert sustained an injury at his home.
Prior to Tuesday’s hearing, Ellis met in chambers with Judge Robert Pilmer and opposing counsel Kristi Browne, where it is believed his client’s health issue was discussed. But in the ensuing proceedings, nothing was put on the record and Ellis declined questions about the reasons behind his request for the delay.
Hastert is being sued by a Kendall County man who says the former speaker still owes him $1.8 million, promised to guarantee that man’s silence about a decades-old incident of sexual abuse. It was that man’s allegations which led to federal charges against Hastert, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
