If you’re rich, white and have friends in high places, it seems you should be entitled to a free pass when it comes to molesting children. That’s the only conclusion that can be drawn from the 41 letters of support written for ex-House Speaker and accused child abuser Dennis Hastert by scores of his former Republican colleagues and friends.
The letters were penned in a bid to convince Federal judge Thomas Durkin to show leniency towards Hastert when he hands down a sentence for concealing bank transactions next week.
While Hastert pleaded guilty to financial crimes and lying to the FBI, he also stands accused of molesting up to five boys while working as a wrestling coach at Yorkville High School in the 1960s and 1970s. Hastert can’t be charged directly for this sexual abuse due to the expiration of the statutes of limitation.
Despite his efforts to evade responsibility for his actions, the current case against Hastert is directly linked to his abuse of young boys. He has admitted to illegally concealing bank transactions of $1.7 million which prosecutors claim were payments to one of his victims, known only as “Individual A.” Hastert has given no other credible explanation for the transactions.
Before sentencing Hastert, the judge will hear from a man abused by Hastert as a child and the sister of another victim who has since passed away. Meanwhile, his GOP buddies have done all they can to convince the judge that Hastert is really a great guy who shouldn’t have to face the full force of the law.
In his fawning letter, former house majority whip, Rep Tom Delay, described Hastert as a “man of strong faith” and “great integrity.” Delay claims he is on “intimate” terms with Hastert and has seen his heart “up close and personal.” Without a shred of irony, Delay also stated that Hastert “loves the Lord,” and “gets his integrity and values from Him.”
Hastert occupied powerful positions within the Republican party and was at one point second in line to the presidency. His gall in claiming to defend moral values when in these high positions is difficult enough to stomach, but the heartfelt support from his colleagues takes hypocrisy to a whole new level.
While whipping up hysteria about gay and transgender people and the threat they pose to all that is good and decent, prominent Republicans have demonstrated they are more than happy to stand by one of their own despite credible accusations of child abuse and a trail of evidence pointing to his guilt. This speaks volumes about the real values of the GOP.
The old truism that you can tell a great deal about a man by the company he keeps is very apt in this case, and it doesn’t reflect well on any of those involved.
Featured image via Getty/Scott Olsen
