Dennis Hastert, the Illinois Republican who served as Speaker of the House and later went to prison, has died at 84, The Washington Post reports. The newspaper attributed his death to his admission of sexual abuse, which it said upended his legacy.
Hastert's death was reported Monday by multiple outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fox News, NPR and CBS News. The New York Times described him as a powerful politician disgraced by child sexual abuse.
Hastert led the House as speaker, a role that placed him second in the line of presidential succession. NPR noted that he was a longtime Republican speaker who was later imprisoned.
According to the headlines and summaries of the reporting, Hastert's public standing collapsed after he admitted to sexual abuse. The Washington Post said that admission reshaped how his time in leadership is remembered.
The details of his death, including the cause, were not included in the material available. Further reporting from The Washington Post and other outlets is expected to provide additional information about his life and the legal case that followed his time in office.
