CHICAGO (AP) — The sex abuse victim who testified against Dennis Hastert at the former U.S. House speaker’s sentencing hearing says he finally decided to do so publicly after Hastert reached out to his brother for a letter of support.
Scott Cross is a 53-year-old businessman who lives in the Chicago suburbs and was on the Yorkville High School wrestling team that Hastert coached in the 1970s.
Cross, whose brother is former Illinois House Republican leader Tom Cross, said in court that Hastert fondled him on a locker room table after practice.
The Associated Press normally does not name sexual abuse victims, but Scott Cross gave the AP permission to publish his name. In court records, he was referred to only as “Individual D.”
Hastert was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
