REPORT: Indicted Former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert Was Being Blackmailed Over Sexual Misconduct

According to unnamed law enforcement officials, former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert was being blackmailed by someone with knowledge of Hastert having committed "sexual misconduct" with a male many years ago. Via the Los Angeles Times:

One of the officials, who would not speak publicly about the federal charges in Chicago, said “Individual A,” as the person is described in Thursday’s federal indictment, was a man and that the alleged misconduct was unrelated to Hastert’s tenure in Congress. The actions date to Hastert’s time as a Yorkville, Ill., high school wrestling coach and teacher, the official said. “It goes back a long way, back to then,” the source said. “It has nothing to do with public corruption or a corruption scandal. Or to his time in office.” Thursday’s indictment described the misconduct “against Individual A” as having “occurred years earlier.” Asked why Hastert was making the payments, the official said it was to conceal Hastert’s past relationship with the male. “It was sex,’’ the source said. The other official confirmed that the misconduct involved sexual abuse.

Hastert and his lobbying firm have declined to comment.

RELATED: Following the 2006 House page scandal resignation of former GOP Rep. Mark Foley, Hastert was alleged to have known about Foley's actions. Hastert retired from the House in 2007.