Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert dies at 84, years after sexual abuse scandal destroyed his political legacy
U.S.
Dennis Hastert, the former Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, has died at the age of 84.
Hastert served as House speaker from 1999 to 2007 and was once one of the most powerful figures in Washington.
His reputation collapsed years after leaving Congress when allegations emerged that he had sexually abused teenage boys while working as a high school teacher and wrestling coach.
He later pleaded guilty to violating federal banking laws while trying to conceal hush-money payments to one of his victims and was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2016.
