Timeline of events in Dennis Hastert's life and career

CHICAGO (AP) — Before he was indicted last May, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was known primarily for rising from political obscurity in rural Illinois to the nation's third-highest office, which he occupied for eight years.

Hastert tells incumbent House Speaker Newt Gingrich that dissatisfaction in GOP ranks makes it unlikely the Georgia lawmaker will hold onto post.

Hastert joins the prominent Washington-based lobbying firm of Dickstein Shapiro as senior adviser.

Hastert allegedly makes 15 withdrawals of $50,000 to pay Individual A $750,000 in total, paying the money in lump sums of $100,000 cash.

The FBI and IRS start investigating Hastert on suspicion of violating banking reporting requirements.

Hastert is indicted on one count of seeking to skirt bank reporting requirements and one count of lying to the FBI about the reason for his cash withdrawals.

Wheaton College strikes Hastert's name from it public policy center, citing his indictment.

At a court hearing, defense lawyer Thomas Green blames government leaks for media reports of past sexual misconduct by Hastert.

Hastert pleads guilty to evading banking laws and agrees to a deal with federal prosecutors that recommends he serve no more than six months in prison.

The federal judge overseeing Hastert's case agrees to delay sentencing until April 8 after Hastert's attorneys say he nearly died from sepsis in November and was not released from the hospital until Jan. 15.

The judge orders an independent review of Hastert's medical records.

The judge agrees to delay sentencing until April 27 after prosecutors say a man who says he was sexually abused by Hastert is leaning toward testifying at sentencing but has a conflict on April 8, according to a transcript of a closed-door meeting that for the first time links sex-abuse allegations to Hastert in court documents.