CHICAGO — A possible plea agreement is being negotiated in the hush-money case of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, attorneys told a judge Monday, meaning potentially embarrassing details about the underlying actions in the case might never be divulged in court or anywhere else.
Hastert, who led the U.S. House for nine years, has pleaded not guilty to charges that the Republican skirted federal banking laws in an attempt to pay someone $3.5 million to hide claims of past misconduct.
An indictment handed down in May alleges Hastert agreed to pay the money to a person identified only as “Individual A,” and offers no details about the alleged misconduct. The Associated Press and other media, citing anonymous sources, have reported the payments were intended to conceal claims of sexual misconduct decades ago.
The disclosure about talks on a plea agreement came during a pre-trial hearing in Chicago.
Hastert is charged with violating banking laws and lying to the FBI. He remains free on bond.
