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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert indicted on bank-related charges

Associated Press
Federal prosecutors have announced bank-related charges against former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. A statement from the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago says the 73-year-old Illinois Republican is accused of structuring the withdrawal of $952,000 in cash in order to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000. He’s also accused of lying to the FBI. Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. From 2010 to 2014, Hastert withdrew a total of approximately $1.7 million in cash from various bank accounts and provided it to a person identified only as Individual A, according to the indictment. In December last year, “Hastert falsely stated that he was keeping the cash” when questioned by the FBI, the prosecutor’s statement says. The Associated Press has left messages seeking comment from Hastert. A message left with a person at Hastert’s Washington, D.C., office was not immediately returned Thursday. An email sent to Hastert also was not immediately returned.