Ex-GOP House Speaker Hastert linked to 4 sex-molestation cases

Former GOP Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007, was a wrestling coach in an earlier life. Now he has to come to grips with a growing scandal.

An explosive 2,600-word story Thursday in the Chicago Tribune is pinning him to four molestation cases — not just the one hinted in his hush-money scandal — to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The Tribune says its reporters spent 10 months contacting scores of athletes and students coached and taught by Hastert.

“Hastert is alleged to have sexually abused the teens identified by the Tribune when he was a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School in the far southwest suburbs, decades before he became the longest-serving Republican speaker,” the paper said. “Some of the alleged conduct, which prosecutors have not detailed, might come to light this week when prosecutors are expected to file sentencing memorandums.”

Hastert attorney Tom Green sidestepped the sex-abuse claims in a statement.

“Mr. Hastert has made mistakes in judgment and committed transgressions for which he is profoundly sorry,” Green told the paper. “He fully understands the gravity of his misconduct decades ago and regrets that he resorted to … an effort to prevent the disclosure of that misconduct.”

Reactions emerging:

What Dennis Hastert calls “misconduct,” the rest of the country calls “sexual abuse” https://t.co/TwnrcB65dx pic.twitter.com/j7luqxG5Jb

— Salon.com (@Salon) April 7, 2016

Just one note if I can. When other reporters quit or had to move on from Hastert story, @ChristyGutowsk1 simply refused. Truly exemplary

— Jeff Coen (@JeffCoen) April 7, 2016