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| HASTERT: He's humiliated |
He
faces charges alleging technical flaws in the way he handled his finances, and
could get a few months in a federal correctional center. Although Hastert’s
attorneys argued in a court filing this week they think he should get some form
of probation.
WHY?
It’s
just that Hastert has already suffered so much in the way of humiliation as a
result of the criminal charges filed against him. Hasn’t he suffered enough?
“We
respectfully request that he court consider the humiliation and isolation that
Mr. Hastert and his family have already suffered when determining his
sentence,” they wrote.
Why
do I suspect that people across Illinois have their jaws dropping at the nerve
of the man to ask for mercy?
THERE
ALREADY ARE those people who are upset that Hastert’s criminal charges don’t
relate directly to the offense that many suspect him of having committed – the
sex allegations against a student (or a few) from back when he was a high
school teacher and wrestling coach at Yorkville High School.
There
have been enough complaints that prosecutors are focusing so intently on the
financial violations that it is covering up what they want to believe is the
serious criminal offense that was committed.
Of
course, considering that the alleged offense would have taken place decades ago
there are questions about whether it could be prosecuted (statute of
limitations, you know).
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| VAN DYKE: He's broke |
The
financial violations (which involve making payments in excess of federal limits
without reporting them to federal authorities) are much easier for
calculator-types to comprehend.
ALTHOUGH
IT PUTS Hastert in the same class as Alphonse Capone – the one-time mob boss
whose prison time ultimately came from income tax evasion (and there are
serious questions about whether the federal laws concerning income tax at the
time were so loose that maybe Capone didn’t really do anything wrong).
But
we’re being asked to show compassion for Hastert because he’s old and ill and
he’s embarrassed his family enough.
I
just don’t think many people will buy that.
 |
| CAPONE: Could Al have made same argument? |
Take
the circumstances surrounding Jason Van Dyke – the Chicago cop who faces
multiple murder counts for the slaying of a black teenage boy back in 2014.
HOW
MANY PEOPLE were outraged to learn that Van Dyke these days actually has a
job!?! Admittedly, I’m sure the cop thinks it stinks that he’s been reduced to
the level of a janitor.
But
he’s working at the offices of the Fraternal Order of Police, the police union
that wanted to ensure their member had something of an income while his
criminal trial is pending.
I
wonder what the outrage would be if Van Dyke were to make the same kind of
argument that Hastert’s attorneys claimed in asking for a sense of compassion?
Probably
about the same as it will be if, by chance, Van Dyke’s attorneys somehow find a
way of getting a jury to acquit their client when he ultimately goes to trial
in another two to three years.
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