Hastert attorney: Misconduct claims 'gorilla' in the room
Source: Associated Press
Hastert attorney: Misconduct claims 'gorilla' in the room
Michael Tarm, Associated Press
Updated 5:07 pm, Tuesday, July 14, 2015
CHICAGO (AP) — Allegations of past sexual misconduct by former U.S. Speaker Dennis Hastert present a quandary for the defense in the high-profile hush-money case, an attorney told a federal judge Tuesday, saying the claims are "an 800-pound gorilla" in the room.
During a status hearing in Chicago, defense attorney Thomas C. Green blamed "government leaks" for speculation that swirled around the 73-year-old Republican since he was indicted in late May.
"The indictment has effectively been amended by leaks from the government," Green said. "
It) is now an 800-pound gorilla in this case."
The indictment says Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone identified only as "Individual A" to hide past misconduct; the document offers no detail and does not say the misconduct was sexual in nature. But the Associated Press and other media outlets, citing anonymous sources, have reported the payments were intended to conceal claims of sexual misconduct decades ago.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Pre-trial-hearing-set-in-Hastert-hush-money-case-6383431.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
