Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is recovering from a stroke

Dennis Hastert
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, 73, spent six weeks hospitalized after suffering a stroke in November, his attorney confirmed Thursday. Hastert is set to be sentenced in February after pleading guilty to a felony charge for evading bank reporting laws to withdraw roughly $950,000 in cash in smaller increments. Sources say he was using the money to pay someone to cover up past misconduct.

Hastert could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.