美国前众议院议长丹尼斯·哈斯特去世，享年84岁

美国共和党前众议院议长丹尼斯·哈斯特于近日去世，享年84岁，死因为自然原因23。哈斯特曾于1999年至2007年担任众议院议长，是美国历史上任期最长的共和党众议院议长2。在乔治·W·布什执政时期，他推动了大规模减税和医保扩展等政策2。

然而，哈斯特的政治遗产因其性虐待丑闻而彻底破坏25。他被指控在担任摔跤教练期间对至少4名高中运动员进行了性虐待，这些虐待发生在1965年至1981年期间2。作为摔跤教练，哈斯特曾执教16年，并在1976年被评为全国年度最佳教练2。根据法庭记录，至少一名受害者称虐待发生在其14岁时的汽车旅馆2。为了试图封口，哈斯特支付了超过170万美元，并承诺支付总额为350万美元2。

2016年，哈斯特因违反银行法规而被判入狱15个月2。法官称其为"连环儿童性虐待者"2。在判决时，哈斯特表示"深感羞愧"，并承认"虐待"了一些运动员，但未直接承认性虐待2。

Dennis Hastert, who served as the longest-tenured Republican House speaker in American history, has died at age 84 from natural causes.23 Hastert's death marks the end of a political career that was ultimately defined by a fall from prominence following serious allegations of child sexual abuse.

Hastert held the position of House speaker from 1999 to 2007, a period during which he championed major tax cuts and healthcare expansion during the George W. Bush administration.2 Before his political career, he worked as a wrestling coach for 16 years and was named the National Coach of the Year in 1976.2 However, Hastert was later accused of sexually abusing at least four members of his wrestling team between 1965 and 1981.2 According to court records, one victim, identified as Individual A, said the abuse occurred at a motel when he was 14 years old.2 In an attempt to silence his accusers, Hastert agreed to pay more than $1.7 million in hush money, though he had promised a total of $3.5 million.2

In 2016, Hastert was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for financial crimes related to structuring bank withdrawals to evade federal reporting requirements—charges that arose from his efforts to pay the settlement.2 At his sentencing, he expressed that he was "deeply ashamed" and acknowledged that he had "mistreated" some of his athletes, though he did not directly admit to sexual abuse.2 The judge characterized him as a "serial child sexual abuser."2 His admission regarding the abuse ultimately destroyed his political legacy.5