Alleged sex abuse victim may testify at Hastert sentencing

CHICAGO (AP) — An alleged sex abuse victim of Dennis Hastert could testify about his emotional trauma next month at the former U.S. speaker's sentencing in his hush-money case, according to a transcript of an unannounced court hearing this week during which the court linked sex-abuse allegations to the Illinois Republican for the first time.

Hastert, 74, pleaded guilty on Oct. 28 to violating bank laws as he sought to pay $3.5 million to ensure someone referred to in the 2015 indictment only as "Individual A" stayed quiet about past misconduct by Hastert against Individual A. The misconduct dated back decades to around the time Hastert was a high school wrestling coach.

The Associated Press and other media outlets, citing anonymous sources, previously reported that Hastert wanted to hide claims he sexually molested someone, but the issue hadn't been raised in unsealed filings or in court until this week.

The transcript of Tuesday's federal court hearing, provided Wednesday to the AP by the presiding judge's court reporter, doesn't mention Individual A or raise the prospect that that person might speak at sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block informs Judge Thomas M. Durkin that prosecutors only recently learned "Individual D" is an alleged victim and was leaning toward testifying at sentencing, the transcript says.

Durkin said that if the person wants to "talk about being a victim of sexual abuse, he's entitled to do so because that informs my decision about the history and characteristics of the defendant."