Hastert attorney: Former speaker intends to plead guilty

CHICAGO -- Former House speaker Dennis Hastert intends to plead guilty in a hush-money case linked to allegations of sexual misconduct, a defense attorney said Thursday, a move that could ensure any secrets from his days as a high-school wrestling coach never are revealed in public.

A written plea agreement should be completed by Monday, attorney John Gallo told a federal judge during a brief status hearing.

At the attorney's request, the judge set Oct. 28 as the date for the 73-year-old Illinois Republican to change his plea.

Defendants typically agree to plead guilty in hopes of a more lenient sentence.

A plea deal also would avert a trial that could divulge more about the alleged misconduct behind the criminal charges.

Neither Gallo nor prosecutors offered details about any possible deal, including to which counts Hastert would plead guilty or whether the man who was once second in the line of succession for the presidency would go to prison.

Hastert did not attend Thursday's hearing.

He faces one count of breaking banking laws and one count of lying to the FBI about agreeing to pay $3.5 million to someone referred to in the indictment only as "Individual A."

The money supposedly was to hide claims of unspecified past misconduct.

A plea deal would mean Individual A, who never has been identified, would not have to testify about receiving any of the money.

The Associated Press and other media, citing anonymous sources, have reported the payments were meant to conceal claims of sexual misconduct. In all, Hastert withdrew $1.7 million from 2010 to 2014, according to the indictment.