Hastert's Illinois Hometown Shocked Over Scandal

Before he was U.S. House speaker and secone in line to the president, Dennis Hastert was known around Yorkville, Illinois, as Denny the coach, a beloved mentor to youths on the high school wrestling team and in local Scouting groups who organized road trips to broaden the students' experiences.
This week's indictment accusing Hastert of manipulating bank accounts and lying to the FBI to allegedly cover up past "misconduct" has left hometown admirers searching back through fond memories and struggling to understand how alleged sexual abuse and extortion could have emerged from that period.
Former students say he left an intangible imprint, too, on their lives. Mindful of that record, residents expressed disbelief and confusion at the claims.