Hastert will quit before year's end

WASHINGTON -- Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert plans to leave Congress before the end of the year.

The Illinois Republican had previously announced he won't seek another term but it had been unclear if he'd finish his current term, which runs until January 2009.

Hastert is scheduled to deliver farewell remarks this afternoon in Washington to the House of Representatives. His staff says he plans to formally resign before the end of the year, but no date was specified.

Hastert's upcoming departure will close out a 21-year tenure in Congress that saw the former wrestling coach become the longest-serving Republican speaker in history.