Hastert paid hush money to former student, sources say

Diane Pathieu Image
Saturday, May 30, 2015
More details merge in Hastert case
A second individual was also allegedly victimized in a similar way by Dennis Hastert when he was a student, sources confirm.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The man who was paid $3.5 million in hush money by former Illinois Congressman Dennis Hastert was a student at the school where Hastert worked at the time the alleged sexual misconduct took place, according to sources familiar with the case.

A second individual was also allegedly victimized in a similar way by Hastert when he was a student, sources confirm. The second person neither asked for nor received any money from Hastert, sources said.

Hastert, the 73-year-old former Speaker of the U.S. House, was indicted on bank-related charges Thursday after investigators alleged he agreed to pay hush money someone identified only as "Individual A" in the indictment, to keep quiet about "prior misconduct" by the Illinois Republican.

The second individual was not mentioned in the indictment. Individual A is only identified as a person from Yorkville who has known Hastert most of his life.

All of the alleged misconduct occurred when Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach in suburban Yorkville - before he began his political career, ABC News sources said.

Individual A is not likely to face extortion charges because it may not be entirely clear whether Individual A committed a criminal act, sources said.