Consume Til Doom

THIS ROBOT DOESN’T HAVE A FACE BUT IT’S STILL ADORABLE

Dramatic testimony, and a familiar name, at Hastert sentencing hearing

By NATASHA KORECKI

CHICAGO — In a new twist in the already dramatic case of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a victim known only as “Individual D” in court filings identified himself in court as Scott Cross, the brother of longtime Illinois GOP House Minority Leader Tom Cross.

The testimony took place this morning at Hastert’s sentencing hearing.

Earlier this month, prosecutors said Hastert abused at least five students when he served as wrestling coach at Yorkville High School more than three decades ago. Keeping that secret served as the underlying motivation in breaking banking laws, prosecutors have argued.

Tom Cross has long considered Hastert a political mentor. He served as the GOP leader in the Illinois House from 2003-2013. In 2014, he lost his statewide bid in the Illinois Treasurer race.

In a recent phone interview, Scott Cross, a former wrestler under Hastert, told POLITICO he personally knew there were more accusers.

“I can tell you, there are nine victims, not five,” Scott Cross said. “I know, I’ve confirmed there are nine.”

When asked his thoughts on Hastert, Cross said, “He has his bed to lie in. His time will come, the Maker’s got his number.”

Several lobbyists on the fundraising trip were taken aback by the closeness displayed by Shuster, Calio and Rubino as they mingled at the Shelbourne Wyndham Grand Hotel on posh Collins Avenue in South Beach. These sources declined to speak for attribution, not wanting to antagonize a powerful committee chairman and the largest airline lobby.

The parmesan cheese you’re eating might actually be wood pulp

Don’t be alarmed, but your parmesan cheese might actually be wood pulp. The Food and Drug Administration has investigated Castle Cheese Inc.’s use of cellulose, an anti-clumping agent made from wood pulp, and cut-rate substitute cheeses in what they marketed as 100 percent parmesan cheese, Bloomberg Business reports.

Though Castle was apparently not an authorized Target vendor, the FDA reported that “no parmesan cheese was used to manufacture” Target’s Market Pantry brand of 100 percent parmesan cheese. The cheese was instead made up of Swiss, mozzarella, white cheddar, and cellulose.

… ew.