Attorneys raise no objections to Hastert judge
Prosecutors and defense attorneys raised no objections Thursday to U.S. District Judge Thomas Durkin remaining on the criminal case involving former House speaker Dennis Hastert, charged in an alleged hush money scandal.
Both sides filed letters in federal court stating that they were "willing to proceed'' with Durkin, who acknowledged in court earlier this week making campaign contributions to Hastert prior to his appointment to the bench.
Durkin also disclosed past working associations with one of Hastert's sons and with one of the former speaker's defense attorneys.
During Hastert's arraignment earlier this week on charges of lying to the FBI and illegally structuring bank withdrawals to pay off a former associate for past misconduct, the judge said he would remove himself from the case if lawyers raised objections to his connections with the former speaker.
"I have no doubt I can be impartial in this matter,'' Durkin said during Tuesday's arraignment where Hastert pleaded not guilty.