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Hastert Admits Abuse, Gets Prison

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Judge calls him “serial child molester.”

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Reuters/Jim Young

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert took the stand Wednesday in the sentencing hearing for his hush-money case. “I’m deeply ashamed for standing before you today,” he told the court. “The thing I want to do today is say I’m sorry.” Asked whether he molested Jolene Burdge’s brother, the late Stephen Reinboldt, Hastert said “yes.” In his sentencing, Judge Thomas Durkin called Hastert a “serial child molester” and sentenced him to two years of supervised release, including sex-offender treatment, and 15 months in prison along with a $250,000 fine.