Judge in Hastert case donated to his campaigns

The federal judge who has been assigned to the case against former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) previously donated to at least two of the Illinois congressman’s campaigns, according to federal campaign finance records.

Thomas Durkin donated $500 to Hastert’s congressional campaign in 2002, followed by another $1,000 donation in 2004, per Federal Election Commission records. 

{mosads}Both donations came before Durkin was appointed as judge for the Northern District of Illinois, and while he was a partner at the private law firm Mayer Brown. 

A spokesman for the court did not immediately return a request for comment.

The judge’s donations to Hastert were first reported by Politico, which noted that one of the lawyers representing him in another case, his son Ethan, is a partner at the Mayer Brown law firm. The newspaper also noted that the judge’s brother, Jim Durkin, serves as minority leader in the Illinois House. 

Records show that Thomas Durkin also donated to his brother’s unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 2002, and Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign, among other donations.

President Obama appointed Durkin to fill a vacant judgeship in May 2012, and he was confirmed later that year by the Senate. 

Hastert is slated to be arraigned Thursday morning at the downtown Chicago courthouse.

While his indictment didn’t describe the misconduct, law enforcement sources have said that Hastert had been paying off a person identified as “Individual A.”

Law enforcement officials quoted in media reports have said Individual A was a male student of Hastert’s, and have suggested the former Speaker was involved in sexual misconduct. Hastert is a former high school teacher and wrestling coach.

— Megan Wilson contributed