Dennis Hastert

Re-posted from Facebook:

If he were to be convicted of raping teenage boys, Dennis Hastert should be put to death for his crimes.

That said, Hastert is going to prison for a fabricated non-crime. We should not rejoice in an oppressive law being used in this case, even if the person convicted did get away with other decades-old crimes.

This is a dangerous law. There have been businesses that have been criminally prosecuted for structuring because they made deposits, transfers or withdrawals of just under $10,000. Why? Because that was their business' sales that day or week.

This law is so broad, and casts such a wide net, that innocent people have committed "crimes" without ever having any intent to do anything illegal or even immoral. They are just minding their own business, not bothering anybody, living their lives.

Because this law is so broad, a corrupt prosecutor with a grudge against someone can ruin his victim's life and it will be spun as "protecting the public." And yes, corrupt prosecutors exist. See Nifong, Mike.

If "structuring" is used to cover up illegal activity, then I can see a scenario where it should be punishable by law. But what Hastert was doing with his money was not illegal. Paying hush money is not illegal. It was terribly wicked, but not illegal.