Hastert apologizes for having ‘mistreated’ former students

Former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) on Wednesday apologized for having “mistreated” former students during his sentencing hearing in a hush money case.

In a written statement, Hastert said he was “deeply ashamed” to be in the Chicago courthouse.

{mosads}Hastert, who was in a wheelchair, then apologized to members of the wrestling team he had coached.

"I am deeply ashamed to be standing before you today," Hastert says. "I mistreated some of athletes that I coached."

— Julie Bosman (@juliebosman) April 27, 2016

Hastert, voice thin, apologizes to boys he "mistreated." "They looked to me, and I took advantage of them."

— Steven Portnoy (@stevenportnoy) April 27, 2016

Prosecutors have said that Hastert abused at least four boys during his time as a teacher and wrestling coach at a high school in Illinois, decades before entering politics. 

Hastert said he didn’t remember the alleged abuse of Scott Cross, 53, who identified himself in court moments earlier as the “Individual D” listed in court documents. Cross is also the brother of longtime Illinois state GOP leader Tim Cross.

“As a high school wrestler I looked up to Coach Hastert — he was a key figure in my life,” Cross told the court, according to The New York Times.

He said he felt “intense pain, shame and guilt” over what had happened.