Thread: Congressman owes $117,000 in child support, suit says

Congressman owes $117,000 in child support, suit says

By Katherine Skiba
Tribune reporter
11:38 a.m. CDT, July 28, 2011

WASHINGTON--U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh of McHenry owes more than $100,000 in child support and interest to his former wife, she alleges in a Cook County Circuit Court filing.

The dispute, set out in a court filing last December, remains unsettled. Walsh's ex-wife says he is $117,437 behind in payments.

Walsh, 49-year-old Republican, entered Congress in January, swept into office with help from tea-party activists. He often appears on television demanding the country drastically cut its spending and pay its bills.

The child support claim was first reported today in the Chicago Sun-Times. Walsh denounced the Sun-Times story in a statement, calling it a "hit piece."

He added: "These latest attacks against me are false and I will fight them in the appropriate venue."

Walsh also used the statement to profess his love for his children. He was married for 17 years to Laura J. Walsh and they have two sons, ages 23 and 16, and a daughter, age 20.

The next court date in the case is Sept. 14, when a status report regarding settlement is scheduled, according to Tom Coladarci, a law clerk at the firm representing Laura Walsh.

Walsh, who lives in McHenry and has remarried, won office in November even after problems surfaced with respect to his financial history. He had a condo in Evanston that he lost to foreclosure and state and federal tax liens, which ultimately were satisfied.

His former wife's lawyer, John Coladarci of Chicago, could not immediately be reached today. Nor could Rep. Walsh's lawyer, R. Steven Polachek of Barrington.

The child-support case is being heard in Cook County Circuit Court's Domestic Relations Division.

Walsh represents the 8th Congressional District, which takes in the northwest Chicago suburbs. His narrow victory unseated a Democratic incumbent, Melissa Bean.

Because of redistricting, there are signs that Walsh is considering a challenge to a Republican colleague, Rep. Randy Hultgren of Winfield, in the 14th District

Walsh's spokesman, Justin Roth, said this week that Walsh planned to seek re-election, but did not specify in which district.

kskiba@tribune.com

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 0210.story

Joe Walsh (Illinois politician)

From Wikipedia
William Joseph "Joe" Walsh[3] (born December 27, 1961) is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district.[4] He is a fundraiser and a conservative Republican best known as a Tea Party activist. The district covers some of Chicago's northwestern and far north suburbs, including parts of Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Gurnee, Palatine, Mundelein, Zion, Barrington, McHenry, and Woodstock.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh_ ... politician)

quote[ Walsh, 49-year-old Republican, entered Congress in January, swept into office with help from tea-party activists. He often appears on television demanding the country drastically cut its spending and pay its bills.]endquote Sounds like he needs to practice what he preaches.