Chicago

Judge to Set Initial Court Date for Former Speaker Hastert

The U.S. attorney's office in Chicago says former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert has not been arrested following charges linked to allegations he agreed to $3.5 million in hush money.

Prosecutors' spokesman Kim Nerheim says an initial court date will be set soon by a federal judge. A new court docket names U.S. District Thomas M. Durkin as the presiding judge in the Illinois Republican's case.

Nerheim says defendants are typically not arrested "unless they are considered a flight risk." She declined to comment on details of Hastert's case.

Thursday's indictment charges the 73-year-old with breaking banking laws as he withdrew money to pay someone to keep quiet about "past misconduct." He's also charged with lying to the FBI.

The indictment doesn't detail the alleged misconduct by Hastert.

Officials with the northern Illinois school district where former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert worked from 1965 to 1981 say no one has contacted to district to report any misconduct involving him.

In a statement released Friday, officials with Yorkville Community Unit School District #151 say they were made aware of the indictment when it was released publicly on Thursday and they have no knowledge of any alleged misconduct.

District officials say they'll cooperate in any investigation if asked by the U.S. Attorney's office. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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