Dennis Hastert, the Illinois Republican who served as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and was later imprisoned, has died at the age of 84, CBS News reports.
Hastert's death was announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, according to CBS News. Other outlets including Politico, Bloomberg, The New York Times and USA Today also reported his death at 84.
Hastert held the speaker's gavel for years as the top Republican in the House before leaving the post. His political career was later overshadowed by a criminal case tied to allegations of child sexual abuse, a scandal that drew national attention and ended in a prison sentence. Coverage of his death from multiple news organizations describes him as a onetime powerful lawmaker whose legacy was defined by that case.
Further details on his career, the charges against him and his time in office have been widely documented by CBS News and other outlets reporting on his death.
What to watch next: statements from former colleagues and additional reporting on his political legacy are expected to follow.
