Disgraced former House Speaker Dennis Hastert dies at 84

(The Hill) — Former GOP House Speaker John Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) died over the weekend at his home “due to natural causes,” according to Illinois’ Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell.

Hastert, 84, served as Speaker from 1999 to 2007, until Democrats won back the lower chamber and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) succeeded him. He announced that he would not seek reelection in 2008, ending his tenure in Congress.

Former President George W. Bush had said then that he was “indebted to Denny for his candid advice and strong support.”

Hastert was sentenced to prison in 2016 in a hush money case that revealed decades-old sexual abuse. A federal judge sentenced Hastert to 15 months in prison and imposed a $250,000 fine.

Hastert admitted in court that he sexually abused boys while coaching at Yorkville High School. The judge referred to him as a “serial child molester.”

WGN’s Marisa Rodriguez contributed to this report.