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[h=4]Former House speaker Hastert pleads not guilty[/h]CHICAGO — Former speaker Dennis Hastert appeared before a federal judge on Tuesday, pleading not guilty to charges that he lied to the FBI about illegally structured bank withdrawals he made to pay off someone
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Dennis Hastert appeared in court Tuesday for the first time since he was indicted, pleading not guilty to charges that he violated banking rules and lied to the FBI in a scheme to pay $3.5 million in hush money to conceal misconduct from his days as a high school teacher. Defense attorney Thomas C. Green entered the pleas on behalf of the former House speaker, who looked visibly ill-at-ease during the 20-minute hearing. He stood motionless before the judge's bench, his shoulders hunched, his hands folded and his eyes cast downward to the floor. The 73-year-old Republican has not spoken publicly about the accusations that emerged two weeks ago and quickly raised questions about possible sexual abuse by the man who was once second in the line of succession to the presidency.

 USA TODAY
Former House speaker Dennis Hastert arrives at the federal courthouse June 9, 2015, in Chicago for his arraignment on federal charges that he broke federal banking laws and lied about the money when questioned by the FBI. The indictment two weeks ago alleged Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million to someone from his days as a high school teacher not to reveal a secret about past misconduct.(Photo: Paul Beaty, AP)
CHICAGO — Former House speaker Dennis Hastert, in his first public appearance since being indicted in an alleged hush money scandal, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to charges that he lied to the FBI and illegally structured bank withdrawals to pay off a former associate for misconduct that is believed to have occurred decades ago.
Hastert navigated a gantlet of news crews outside the federal courthouse here to enter his plea and break a nearly two-week silence since prosecutors unveiled allegations that the 73-year-old former speaker agreed to pay nearly $3.5 million to a person identified in court documents as "Individual A,'' someone Hastert has known for most of the person's life.
The indictment did not specify the misconduct, but a federal law enforcement official has told USA TODAY that the activity was sexual in nature and involved a young man Hastert knew during his tenure as a teacher and coach at Yorkville High School, a small town west of Chicago where Hastert once served as a wrestling coach and teacher. Prosecutors allege the person was paid $1.7 million before the charges were made public.
Former House speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was indicted May 28, 2015, on bank-related charges.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: 2007 photo by Brian Kersey, AP)
Hastert's arrival touched off a news media frenzy, requiring the political icon to weave his way to the courthouse door. Other than recording a plea, entered by Hastert's legal team, the brief hearing revealed nothing more about the charges, including the identity of the person who allegedly received the payments.
Appearing noticeably stooped in a dark suit and blue tie, Hastert said little during the 15-minute session, once acknowledging to the judge that he understood the conditions of his release on personal recognizance.
"Yes,'' he said.
Noted white-collar defense attorney Thomas Green is serving as Hastert's lead counsel, and his local counsel is John Gallo, according to court documents filed on Monday. Both lawyers come from the Chicago-headquartered firm Sidley Austin.
Green, based in Washington, D.C., has been involved in several high-profile cases involving politicians and government officials over the years. He represented former assistant attorney general Robert Mardian during Watergate, and retired major general Richard Secord during the Iran-Contra affair. Gallo is a former assistant U.S. attorney, and co-leader of the firm's white collar practice.
The former Republican lawmaker appeared before Judge Thomas Durkin, who has made a total of $1,500 in campaign donations in 2002 and 2004 to Hastert. Durkin, appointed to the federal bench by President Obama in 2012, acknowledged the contributions in open court, saying the contributions were made through a partner at his former law firm Mayer Brown.
He also disclosed past working associations with one of Hastert's sons and with one of the former speaker's defense attorneys, yet he asserted that he could be fair. Nevertheless, he said he would remove himself from the case unless lawyers on both sides decided to waive objections and allow him to stay on. He gave attorneys until Thursday to make a decision.
"I have no doubt I can be impartial in this matter,'' Durkin said.
Last week, the sister of a former Yorkville student, who had served as an equipment manager for Hastert's wrestling team more than 40 years ago, accused Hastert of sexually abusing her brother when he was a student.
Jolene Burdge told ABC News that her brother, Steve Reinboldt, who died of AIDS in 1995, confided to her that he was the victim of four years of sexual abuse by Hastert. Reinboldt graduated in 1971. Burdge said she never asked for money from Hastert, but believes that "Individual A" is familiar with what happened with her brother.
According to court documents, Hastert began making $50,000 payments to the individual in 2010. In July 2012, he reduced the withdrawals from his personal bank account to try to circumvent federal rules that require banks to report withdrawals $10,000 and greater to the IRS.
The FBI and IRS began investigating Hastert in 2013 to determine whether Hastert could be using the money for a criminal purpose, was a victim of extortion or was using the money for some other reason, the indictment said.
Prosecutors said Hastert lied to FBI agents about the withdrawals when they interviewed him late last year.
When agents asked if he was withdrawing the money because he did not feel safe with the banking system, Hastert allegedly responded, "Yeah ... I kept the cash. That's what I'm doing."
Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The prosecution may be in no hurry to reveal information about "Individual A" as part of a strategy to nudge Hastert toward a plea agreement, said Richard Kling, a professor at the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
"They know what they have and Hastert probably knows what they have," Kling said. The answer is they are keeping it close to the vest , because they are in a better negotiating posture. If it's revealed, Hastert has no reason not to go to trial."
A federal police officer directs former House speaker Dennis Hastert, right, as he and his attorneys arrive for his first court appearance at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago. Hastert was named in an indictment claiming he made $1.7 million in payments to an unnamed individual in exchange for the individual not making public that Hastert had sexually abused him when Hastert was a teacher in Yorkville, Ill. Hastert is charged with attempting to evade currency transaction reporting requirements and lying about it to the FBI.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Tannen Maury, European Pressphoto Agency)
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