Long after indictment, Dennis Hastert hasn't spoken
Days before he's set to be arraigned in federal court Tuesday, the former speaker of the U.S. House hasn't spoken.
No legal team for former longtime suburban congressman Dennis Hastert emerged Friday after the sister of a former member of the wrestling team alleged publicly that Hastert was sexually involved with her brother while he was a high school student in Yorkville.
The student, Stephen Reinboldt, died 20 years ago and therefore wasn't the person prosecutors say Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to keep a story of what they called his "wrongful conduct" under wraps.
Hastert was indicted more than a week ago on charges of lying to the FBI about withdrawing the hush money, and his arraignment has been hastily pushed back once already. If Tuesday's court appearance happens, Hastert could enter a plea and some answers about his side of the story could be coming.
His longtime allies in Illinois have been largely quiet about the charges.
While federal sources quickly leaked to reporters after the indictment that the "past misconduct" referred to in the Hastert indictment was sexual in nature, those kinds of specifics aren't addressed in an indictment mostly focused on how Hastert withdrew his own money from a bank.
Tuesday's arraignment also could answer questions about the future of the judge in the case. Federal Judge Thomas Durkin has given campaign money to Hastert and is the brother of a top Illinois GOP official, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.