Dennis Hastert | File photo
Dennis Hastert | File photo
COVID-19 concerns have been cited in further delays to a jury trial in which Dennis Hastert, a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is being sued for allegedly failing to finish paying off a man who claims Hastert sexually abused him.
The Daily Herald reports the case has already been delayed once, but social distancing may cause it to be delayed even further, Kendall County Chief Judge Robert Pilmer said.
The party suing Hastert, known in court documents as "James Doe," alleges Hastert agreed to pay him $3.5 million in order to not go public with claims Hastert sexually abused Doe when Doe was a student wrestler and Hastert was a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School.
Doe now alleges that Hastert only paid $1.7 million of the agreed upon sum, and is suing Hastert for breach of contract. Hastert paid Doe $1.7 million from 2010 to 2014, according to the Herald's reporting from court documents.
Hastert has countersued for the return of the money paid, alleging that Doe violated the confidentiality agreement.
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