Ex-Speaker Hastert to Report to Prison This Week

Hastert has until 2 p.m. Wednesday, to surrender to prison

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is enjoying his last 48 hours of freedom.

Hastert has until 2 p.m. Wednesday, to surrender to the Federal Medical Center prison in Rochester, Minnesota, where he will begin serving a 15-month sentence.

While the former speaker’s jail term is technically a financial crime, he admitted in court that the hush-money case stemmed from the sexual abuse of athletes in his care, when he was wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.

“I am deeply ashamed,” Hastert told Judge Thomas Durkin. “I mistreated some of the athletes that I coached.”

With credit for good behavior, he will be released from custody in about 12 and a half months.

Upon arrival in Rochester, Hastert will be required to submit a DNA sample, and will be required to attend a mandatory admission session, where his physical and psychological needs will be assessed. The disgraced speaker’s incoming and outgoing mail and parcels will be opened, read, and examined. His movements around the facility will be strictly controlled in various ten minute periods throughout the day. If he is deemed medically fit, he will be given a job shortly after arrival, which he will hold for at least three months. 

Upon rising every day, Hastert will be expected to have his bed made by 7:30, according to the prison’s inmate handbook, and he is to sweep and wet mop his cell daily. He will be allowed to post photos of immediate family, but outside clothing is strictly prohibited. If he wants to watch television in any of the facility’s common areas, he will be required to bring his own chair. 

The halls at Rochester have been walked by familiar and notorious names. Former Chicago congressman Dan Rostenkowski did his time there, as did televangelist Jim Bakker, mob boss Joey Aiuppa, and County Commissioner Bill Beavers. Disgraced Chicago detective chief William Hanhardt also served at Rochester, and Jared Loughner, the assailant of congresswoman Gabby Giffords is housed there now serving a life sentence.

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