Dennis Hastert, the 'Accidental Speaker' Who Ended in Prison, Dies at 84
J. Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the U.S. House, has died at age 84. He passed away of natural causes at his home in Illinois. Hastert served as Speaker from 1999 to 2007, advancing President George W. Bush's legislative agenda. His legacy was later marred by a 2016 conviction for bank fraud related to hush money payments to conceal sexual abuse of teenage wrestlers. He served 15 months in prison and was described by a judge as a 'serial child molester.'