Former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who led the chamber from 1999 to 2007, has died at the age of 84.
Hastert died over the weekend at his home in Illinois from natural causes while receiving hospice care, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell.
The Illinois Republican entered the US House in 1987 and rose through the party ranks before becoming Speaker following the resignation of Newt Gingrich. His eight-year tenure made him the longest-serving Republican Speaker in the history of the House.
During his time in the position, Hastert worked closely with President George W. Bush and helped advance major parts of the administration's legislative agenda, including tax cuts and a major expansion of Medicare prescription drug benefits.
His political career, however, was later overshadowed by a criminal case involving payments he made to a former student. Hastert pleaded guilty in 2015 to violating banking laws after prosecutors said he had withdrawn millions of dollars in cash to pay hush money connected to the sexual abuse of teenage boys during his years as a high school wrestling coach.
He was sentenced in 2016 to 15 months in prison and became one of the highest-ranking former US officials to serve a prison sentence. Prosecutors said Hastert had sexually abused at least four members of his wrestling team between 1965 and 1981.
Hastert left Congress in 2007 after Democrats regained control of the House. He is survived by his wife, Jean, and two adult sons.
