Illinois lawmakers had been pressing to erect a statue of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert this spring, until Hastert himself called around last month and lobbied against the idea.
The Chicago Tribune reported that veteran Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had been pushing to spend $500,000 erecting a statue honoring Hastert earlier this year.
But Hastert called the Illinois speaker in April and said the state could not afford spending a half-million dollars on a new statue.
Hastert is now the subject of federal charges that allege he agreed to pay $3.5 million to an undisclosed person who was the subject of “past misconduct” by Hastert. An indictment against Hastert was unsealed Thursday.
His first appearance in court is scheduled for next week.