Hastert’s lawyers discussing plea deal

Lawyers for former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) are in talks with prosecutors about a potential plea deal in his federal case, according to multiple reports. 

The discussions were disclosed Monday during a hearing in federal court in Chicago, and raise the possibility that the hush money charges against Hastert might never reach trial. 

{mosads}“I would characterize our discussions as linear and productive,” Hastert lawyer John Gallo said during court proceedings, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Hastert, 73, pleaded not guilty in June to charges of lying to authorities and breaking banking laws regarding payments that he made to someone who knew him back when he was a teacher and wrestling coach at a high school in Yorkville, Ill.

The indictment of Hastert, released weeks earlier, alleged that he lied to investigators and attempted to flout banking laws after agreeing to pay $3.5 million to an unnamed individual to compensate for and conceal “prior misconduct.”

Unnamed sources in reports have since indicated the misconduct was sexual in nature and involved a former student. A woman interviewed by ABC News in early June claimed Hastert had sexually abused her late brother during his four years of high school.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 15.