Former U.S. House Speaker Hastert pleads not guilty to federal charges

CHICAGO, (Reuters) – Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert pleaded not guilty in a packed Chicago courtroom on Tuesday to federal charges of trying to hide large cash transactions and lying to the FBI about it.

Law enforcement officials have said Hastert was using the money to try to cover up sexual abuse of a male decades ago when the former Republican congressman worked as a high school wrestling coach and teacher, according to media reports.

Hastert’s attorneys, Thomas Green and John Gallo, entered the plea on his behalf in a brief arraignment hearing before Judge Thomas Durkin in Chicago’s federal courthouse.