The federal judge assigned to preside over Hastert case also donated to his campaigns

By JOSH GERSTEIN 6/1/15 1:17 PM EDT
The federal judge assigned to preside over the criminal case against former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) donated at least twice to Hastert’s congressional campaigns, federal campaign finance records show.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Durkin gave Hastert for Congress $500 in 2002 and $1000 in 2004, according to the Federal Election Commission.

The donations could fuel questions about the judge’s impartiality in the case. News outlets have already noted that the judge’s brother is a prominent figure in the state’s GOP leadership. Jim Durkin serves as minority leader in the Illinois House, a post he was elected to in 2013.

Thomas Durkin made the donations while he was a partner at a private law firm, Mayer Brown. He also donated similar sums to a smattering of other GOP campaigns, including his brother’s unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 2002 and Sen. John McCain’s presidential bid in 2008.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/denny-hastert-indictment-thomas-durkin-118501.html