About Hastert’s “Known Acts:” The Indifference Is as Disturbing as the Crime

By DAVID INTROCASO This past April 8th federal prosecutors made known former Republican House Speaker, Denis Hastert, sexually molested at least four boys while employed as an Illinois high school wrestling coach beginning in the 1960s.  Prosecutors said there was “no ambiguity” about these abuses.  They were, they said, “known acts.”1 While the news was disturbing sexual and all other forms of child abuse is commonplace.  According to the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually assaulted before they reach the age of eighteen.2  It cannot be a surprise therefore that even a member of Congress molested young boys.  Also not surprising is how frequently child abuse, if made known, is not revealed until many years later.  Rumors about Hastert’s behavior persisted for years, for example, they were floated during 2006 when Congressman Mark Foley was forced to resign for forwarding soliciting e-mails and sexually suggestive instant messages to teenaged boys.  It was not until last year Hastert’s actions nearly fifty years ago became known albeit accidentally.  What banking officials and eventually the FBI wanted to learn, pursuant to the PATRIOT Act and other federal laws, was why Hastert made multiple $50,000 bank withdrawals over two years.  Hastert initially told officials he was buying vintage cars and stocks.  He then explained he did n...
Source: The Health Care Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs