Here's the germain question: Why are the Feds sanctioning the Blackmail of Hastert?
Actually, the Feds aren't sanctioning the blackmail of Hastert. Hastert is being indicted for structured payments and lying to the FBI.
And, because Hastert has never said that blackmail had occurred, there is no crime to pursue on the person being paid off. As a matter of fact, there is evidence that they both agreed on this payment of hush money.
If Hastert were to say he was being blackmailed, then maybe charges would be brought to the person, but in doing so, Hastert would be admitting in a round about way that a sex scandal DID exist, because innocent people don't pay hush money.