Hastert to be arraigned Thursday in federal court in Chicago

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Chicago Tribune:

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago on charges he agreed to pay $3.5 million to a longtime acquaintance to cover up wrongdoing in his past and then lied to the FBI when asked about the suspicious cash withdrawals from several banks.

 

The hearing was set for 10 a.m. Thursday before U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin, according to the judge's clerk. No attorney has yet filed an appearance on behalf of Hastert, the clerk said.

 

Hastert will enter a plea to the charges and likely be released on his own recognizance, according to a bond order entered last week.

 

Hastert, 73, of Plano, was charged last week with one count each of structuring currency transactions to evade transaction reports and making a false statement to the FBI, counts that each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction.

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The coach gets benched.