Dennis Hastert's lead attorney says the former U.S. House speaker won't appeal his conviction or 15-month prison term in a hush-money case centered on his sexual abuse of students when he was a high school wrestling coach in Illinois decades ago.
Judge Thomas Durkin branded the Republican "a serial child molester" at his April 27 sentencing, where Durkin imposed a punishment that went beyond federal guidelines. Durkin justified the tougher sentence by pointing to Hastert abusing at least four boys at Yorkville High.
Hastert pleaded guilty to violating banking law as he sought to pay $3.5 million to one victim to keep him quiet about the abuse.
