XPost: alt.politics.miserable-failure, alt.journalism.gay-press, alt.politics.greens
XPost: alt.dislocated.ass
Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s lawyers are in plea
discussions with federal prosecutors to resolve his case before
a potentially embarrassing two-week trial, officials indicated
Monday.
But if those negotiations fail, U.S. District Judge Thomas
Durkin said Monday during a court hearing that he’d prefer
Hastert’s trial to begin as soon as March or April. The judge
made that announcement as both sides appeared in court Monday on
an otherwise routine motion to extend filing deadlines in the
case.
The judge said he wants know whether to set a trial date when
both sides appear before him again Oct. 15.
“You should know,” Durkin said.
Hastert attorney John Gallo said discussions with federal
prosecutors have been “linear and productive” and have included
a possible resolution to the case. But if the two sides fail to
reach a deal, Hastert’s lawyers said they will file a 37-page
motion to dismiss Hastert’s indictment.
The motion includes claims of government misconduct, as well as
legal arguments for dismissing the charge that Hastert lied to
the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Block said prosecutors
“absolutely do not agree with the motion.”
Hastert did not attend the hearing at the Dirksen Federal
Courthouse. U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon later acknowledged the
plea negotiations after an event at the City Club of Chicago.
Federal prosecutors unveiled an indictment in May that charged
Hastert with skirting banking laws and lying to the FBI as part
of an alleged $3.5 million hush-money scheme. The former speaker
pleaded not guilty to the charges in a highly anticipated June 9
arraignment in Chicago.
Sources have told the Sun-Times that Hastert paid millions of
dollars to a longtime male acquaintance to cover up alleged
sexual misconduct. Hastert lawyer Thomas Green has since called
leaks to the media “unconscionable.”
While Hastert’s indictment is vague, embarrassing details could
spill out if the case goes to trial. Prosecutors have said such
a proceeding is likely to last two weeks.
Meanwhile, a plea deal with prosecutors could mean those details
never see the light of day. It could also protect the identity
of the alleged hush-money recipient, known only as “Individual
A.”
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/994570/dennis-hastert-go- trial-early-march
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