Just 24 hours after the news broke that former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted for lying to the FBI and illegal money transfers for the purpose of paying blackmail, it's reported that Hastert was involved in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a male student from his days as a high school wrestling coach and teacher. What dilutes any sympathy one might have for the former Speaker, in addition to the obvious misdeed itself, is his abysmal record on LGBT issues, and his general Rethuglican-style sanctimony regarding social issues. Hastert was also very slow in reacting to the House page scandal with former Republican Rep. Mark Foley that erupted during his tenure. Makes some sense in retrospect.
In his 2004 memoir, Hastert wrote what has to be one of the most cringeworthy statements ever, in view of these allegations. He wrote,
“I felt a special bond with our wrestlers. And I think they felt one with me.”Ewww.
UPDATE 6/1: And then there were TWO.
