By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert could spend six months or more in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago to lying to the FBI.
The Associated Press reports that Hastert struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors, who agreed to recommend he serve no more than six months in prison.
But a judge could still go beyond the plea agreement and send the Illinois Republican to prison for up to five years.
The plea deal also meant prosecutors would drop a banking violation charge.
Hastert was accused of handing $100,000 to an anonymous person to keep past misconduct quiet.
