A man who says former House Speaker Dennis Hastert sexually abused him has filed a lawsuit, seeking $1.8 million that the victim says was promised to him to cover up the abuse.
The victim, identified by the complaint as “James Doe,” says Hastert breached a private settlement agreement for $3.5 million in exchange for the victim’s silence. The complaint says Hastert paid $1.7 million from 2010-2014 until the FBI uncovered the transactions.
The damage amount and timeline from the complaint filed Monday match those of the central victim in the federal indictment against Hastert, who was identified as “Individual A.”
In the complaint, the victim says he was 14 at the time of the alleged abuse, and later suffered from a variety of psychiatric conditions as a result.
“For many years to follow [the abuse], Plaintiff suffered severe panic attacks which led to periods of unemployment, career changes, bouts of depression, hospitalization, and long-term psychiatric treatment,” the complaint reads.
Hastert pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal to charges related to lying to federal investigators, as well as structuring money withdrawals in such a way as to avoid triggering federal reporting requirements. Hastert was not charged with sexual abuse.
Hastert will be sentenced April 27.