Ex-House Speaker Hastert in plea negotations

There’s a hearing Monday in Chicago federal court on the Illinois Republican’s motion for another two-week extension.

It’s unclear if claims not in the indictment would have had any relevance at a trial, during which prosecutors would likely have focused narrowly on mundane aspects of US banking law.

One of Hastert’s attorneys calls the negotiations “linear and productive”.

Gallo also said his defense team drafted a motion to dismiss the indictment and shared it with prosecutors. From 2010-2014, Hastert paid $1.7 million to the person, avoiding bank reporting requirements in the process.

At the time, Hastert pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Durkin scheduled a status hearing for October 15 to get updates on the plea-deal talks.

The indictment did not specify the nature of those acts, but sources with knowledge of the investigation told BuzzFeed News that Hastert, a former wrestling coach from a small town outside Chicago, was allegedly paying hush-money to one of his former wrestlers, whom he sexually abused decades ago. The judge indicated that if a plea deal wasn’t finalized by then, he would set a trial date for April or March.

Hastert’s lead attorney, Thomas C. Green, argued that the allegations in the media of past sexual misconduct – which he blamed on government leaks – had presented a quandary for the defense.

The motion says the sides are discussing issues Hastert “may raise in pretrial motions” but offers no details. Green said he wasn’t sure how or whether to address those allegations as he prepared for trial.

Defendants typically agree to change a plea to guilty in hopes of a more lenient sentence.