© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hastert Accompanied to Prison

Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was accompanied by one person as he wheeled himself into a Minnesota prison to start serving a sentence for his hush-money case.  Hastert wore a black shirt and camouflage pants as he guided his wheelchair into the complex in Rochester between high, razor-wire fencing. A woman followed him carrying crutches, a plastic bag and a brown box.

The 74-year-old Illinois Republican reported to the prison at around noon today to start serving his 15-month sentence in a case focused on his sexual abuse of several high school wrestlers. 

The Rochester prison specializes in health care. Hastert is diabetic and suffered a stroke last year.  Hastert is one of the highest-ranking U.S. politicians to ever go to prison, where he'll be known as Inmate No. 47991-424. 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.