Dennis Hastert, former House speaker, dies at 84
Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican House speaker in U.S. history, died Saturday at age 84 from natural causes. Hastert's political career was later overshadowed by his 2016 admission to sexually abusing teenage boys and subsequent imprisonment for a financial crime related to covering up the allegations.
Left-leaning outlets prominently feature Hastert's sexual abuse admission and criminal conviction, framing his death as ending a legacy that was 'disgraced,' 'fouled,' and 'upended' by the molestation allegations and prison time.
Center outlets report the death factually, noting his dual identity as a powerful House speaker and later convict, without strongly emphasizing either his legislative achievements or the severity of his crimes.