National Wrestling Hall of Fame Revokes Hastert's Awards

Federal prosecutors accused Hastert of sexually abusing high school athletes when he was a wrestling coach

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has voted to revoke all honors for Dennis Hastert after the former House speaker was accused of sexually abusing teenagers decades ago.

The Oklahoma-based organization said Monday that its Board of Governors approved the revocation after its ethics committee found that Hastert's actions were "detrimental to the ideals and objectives" of the Wrestling Hall of Fame. Executive Director Lee Roy Smith says it's the first time in the organization's 40 years that it has revoked such a prestigious award.

Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to breaking federal banking rules in a scheme to cover up sexual abuse. Federal prosecutors accused Hastert of sexually abusing high school athletes when he was a wrestling coach in Yorkville, Illinois.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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