Longest-serving Republican speaker Dennis Hastert, soiled by allegations of molesting high school athletes, dies at 84

The deceased, who was speaker from 1999 until 2007, was sentenced in 2016 to more than a year behind bars.

Ambali Abdulkabeer • October 5, 2026

Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican U.S. Speaker of the House, who was mired in allegations that he had molested high school athletes during his career as a teacher and wrestling coach, has died.

Mr Hastert died on Saturday of natural causes at his home while receiving hospice care, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell.

He was 84.

The deceased, who was speaker from 1999 until 2007, was sentenced in 2016 to more than a year behind bars, becoming one of the highest-ranking U.S. politicians ever ordered to prison.

His political legacy was fouled by damning allegations of sexual abuse of teenage boys on his wrestling team in the small town of Yorkville, west of Chicago.

Mr Hastert enjoyed a 16-year coaching career, leading his team to a state championship, and was named national coach of the year in 1976.

However, behind the accolades, prosecutors noted that he sexually abused at least four team members from 1965 to 1981.

Mr Hastert lived his entire life in Chicago’s suburbs, primarily in the Yorkville area, and was survived by his wife, Jean, and two adult sons.

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