WASHINGTON — (CNN) Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has hired a top white-collar crime defense attorney to defend him against federal charges that he tried to hide hush money payments and lied to the FBI about it.
Thomas Green, a Washington-based lawyer with Sidley Austin, is representing Hastert, a firm partner confirmed to CNN.
Green has represented clients tied to huge national scandals including Watergate, Iran-Contra, Whitewater and the Keating Five.
Hastert was paying a former student to keep quiet about allegations of sexual abuse from the time when Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach in Illinois, two sources with knowledge of the federal government investigation told CNN.
Hastert was a teacher and wrestling coach in Yorkville, Illinois between 1965 and 1981 before entering politics and eventually becoming the longest-serving GOP House speaker.
Federal prosecutors indicted Hastert for lying to the FBI about $3.5 million he agreed to pay to an undisclosed person to “cover up past misconduct.”
The former student was a male and a minor when the alleged abuse took place, a federal law enforcement official confirmed to CNN. Federal law enforcement officials also said that investigators decided not to pursue a possible extortion case in the matter.
But much remains unclear in the seven-page indictment federal officials lodged against Hastert.
Hastert makes his first appearance in federal court Tuesday in Chicago. He has not spoken or been seen publicly since the indictment was announced.
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