Judge in Dennis Hastert case contributed to Hastert for Congress

Dennis Hastert

Dennis Hastert

Things that make you go "hmm": a federal judge presiding over a criminal case against a former politician to whom he donated a bunch of money.

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

Oh, and there's also this:

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.

Judge Durkin made those contributions before he became a judge, and it's certainly possible that he could be scrupulously fair. Indeed, if his contributions to the former speaker of the House had anything to do with Hastert's stated views on punishment of "repeat child molesters," then Hastert has reason to worry.

But I'm sure the judge will understand that he's under a little extra scrutiny, right?