Hastert blackmail mom

You're referring to the Mark Foley scandal, which involved former US House Speaker Dennis Hastert and a former student of his.

In 2015, it was reported that Dennis Hastert, who was the Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007, had been accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in the 1970s. The abuse allegedly occurred when Hastert was a high school wrestling coach and the boy was a student at his school.

As part of a plea agreement, Hastert admitted to making false statements to the FBI and structuring cash withdrawals to avoid reporting requirements. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison and fined $250,000.

The scandal also involved allegations that Hastert had blackmailed a former student, known as "Individual A," who had been a victim of sexual abuse by Hastert. According to court documents, Hastert had made payments to Individual A over several years, allegedly to keep the abuse a secret.

The payments were made in an effort to silence Individual A and prevent them from revealing the abuse to authorities. The payments were made in cash, and Hastert allegedly used code names and secret bank accounts to conceal the transactions.

The scandal led to widespread criticism of Hastert and calls for him to resign from his position as Speaker of the House. He ultimately resigned in 2007, citing health reasons.

It's worth noting that the allegations of sexual abuse and blackmail against Hastert were made public in 2015, more than 20 years after the alleged abuse occurred. The scandal highlighted the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and the need for greater transparency and accountability in government.