By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – He was convicted of violating banking laws in an alleged sex abuse hush money case and now he’s not going to get any money from his state pensions.
The General Assembly Retirement System board voted Wednesday to revoke around $750 a month in pension payments for former state lawmaker and U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
State Rep. Mike Zalewski’s, D-Riverside, motion to deny the payments prevailed.
Zalewski disagreed with Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s opinion to keep the payments going.
“[Hastert] was convicted of structuring the payments because he didn’t want his political career to be influenced by knowledge of the victims coming forward and saying, ‘This was happened to me,’” Zalewski said. “I would argue his political career was part and parcel to his career as a general assembly member because guis general assembly career led to his congressional career.”
State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, agreed. “I think there is at least a reasonable reason to believe that there is grounds that there is a causal relationship there.”
Hastert already lost his Teachers Retirement System money shortly after being convicted last year. The GARS board discussed how the TRS settlement with Hastert that would end payouts without TRS going after repayment of around $220,000 that had already gone out.
Others on the GARS board said Hastert could file an appeal of the board’s final administrative ruling to revoke the payments.
Former state Rep. and GARS board member Daniel Pierce said any possible savings could be eaten up by attorney’s fees in a court challenge.
State Rep. David Harris, R-Arlington Heights, opposed the move fearing a lawsuit. “The action that resulted in the TRS reduction had nothing to do in my mind with his service as a member of the Illinois General Assembly.”
Hastert was convicted last year of violating banking laws by withdrawing cash as hush money to an alleged sex abuse victim. He had Teacher Retirement pension revoked shortly thereafter.
He’s is serving a 15 month sentence and is scheduled to be released this summer. He still receives a federal pension of about $73,000 annually from his time in Congress.
