PENNSYLVANIA — Disgraced former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was sentenced to prison yesterday over revelations that he had sexually abused children and paid his victims hush money during the course of his political career. Hastert was Speaker the entirety of Pat Toomey’s three terms in the House, and Hastert’s leadership fund plied Toomey’s campaigns with $22,000 over that period.
Other political beneficiaries of Hastert’s money, including Toomey’s own colleagues, have returned or donated the tainted donations when these horrific allegations came to light or upon news of yesterday’s conviction. Records indicate Toomey has not.
“Dennis Hastert committed heinous crimes against children that dishonor his time in elected office,” said Preston Maddock, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “As a member of the Republican House caucus when Hastert was Speaker, Pat Toomey welcomed Hastert’s help in funding his campaigns, and has yet to return or donate that money. In light of yesterday’s conviction, we call on Toomey to follow what others in his situation have done and give away the contributions of a convicted child-abuser to a worthy cause.”
BACKGROUND:
Toomey Received Over $22,000 From Dennis Hastert’s Leadership PAC. Between 1998 and 2002, Toomey received $22,000 from ex-Speaker Dennis Hastert’s Keep Our Majority PAC. [Center for Responsive Politics, accessed 4/28/16]
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