Former Speaker Hastert   to leave Congress early

By: Hilary Craig

After a 21-year career in Congress, Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert will resign earlier than expected, according to Republican aides.

The Associated Press reported that Hastert, the Illinois Republican for the 14th Congressional District, would not confirm or deny the resignation reports. But the Republican aides said that Hastert plans to leave office late this year or early next year. His current term does not end for another 15 months.

While Hastert announced in August that he would not run for re-election in 2008, he implied that he would finish his current term in January 2009.

His early resignation would lead to a special election in his Chicago-area district early in 2008. Republicans hope to secure his seat before the November 2008 election.

Hastert became Speaker of the House in January 1999. He was the longest-serving Republican speaker in history.

Hastert lost the speakership after Republicans lost control of the House in the 2006 elections. Word of his retirement did not surprise Republican colleagues.