When former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was indicted for lying to the FBI about withdrawals he made, we only knew that money was intended to compensate one “Individual A,” with several news sources reporting that person was a victim of sexual misconduct. We still don’t know who Individual A is, but now, someone has come forward who says her brother was also victimized by Hastert.
Jolene Reinboldt tells ABC News that her brother, Steve, was the student manager on Hastert’s wrestling team at Yorkville High School and a member of his Explorers troop. When he told his sister he was gay eight years after finishing high school, she reportedly asked what was his first sexual encounter with a man, and he named Hastert.
Steve died of AIDS 20 years ago, and Jolene says that though she confronted Hastert at her brother’s funeral, she did not ask him for money. However, she believes Individual A is familiar with her brother’s experience. Jolene says the FBI contacted and questioned her about Hastert several days before his indictment (the Bureau declined to comment for ABC).
Jolene previously tried to report this story to news outlets, including ABC News in 2006; at the time, Hastert denied the claim.
Hastert is due in court on June 9.
[ABC News]
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