Skip to main content
Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Hastert attorney: Leaks in hush-money case ‘unconscionable’

FILE - In this June 9, 2015, file photo, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, right, departs the federal courthouse with his attorney Thomas C. Green in Chicago, after his arraignment on federal charges that he broke federal banking laws and lied about the money when questioned by the FBI. Attorneys are expected to return to federal court Thursday, June 18 2015, to set a schedule for how Hastert’s case will proceed. The indictment alleges Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone from his days as a high school teacher not to reveal a secret about past misconduct. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
FILE - In this June 9, 2015, file photo, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, right, departs the federal courthouse with his attorney Thomas C. Green in Chicago, after his arraignment on federal charges that he broke federal banking laws and lied about the money when questioned by the FBI. Attorneys are expected to return to federal court Thursday, June 18 2015, to set a schedule for how Hastert’s case will proceed. The indictment alleges Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone from his days as a high school teacher not to reveal a secret about past misconduct. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) FILE - In this June 9, 2015, file photo, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, right, departs the federal courthouse with his attorney Thomas C. Green in Chicago, after his arraignment on federal charges that he broke federal banking laws and lied about the money when questioned by the FBI. Attorneys are expected to return to federal court Thursday, June 18 2015, to set a schedule for how Hastert’s case will proceed. The indictment alleges Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone from his days as a high school teacher not to reveal a secret about past misconduct. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

By Associated Press 1 min read

CHICAGO (AP) – A defense attorney says leaks regarding the hush-money case against former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert are “unconscionable” and he may ask the court to investigate.

Prosecutors and lawyers for the Illinois Republican appeared in court Thursday for a status hearing. Hastert wasn’t required to attend, and didn’t do so.

Hastert is charged with violating banking rules and lying to the FBI about promising to pay $3.5 million to conceal past misconduct. The former teacher and coach has pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press and other media outlets, citing anonymous sources, have reported the payments were intended to conceal claims of sexual misconduct from decades ago.

Lawyer Thomas Green says the leaks “have to stop.” Prosecutor Steven Block says the government takes the leaks seriously and is looking into it.