Walsh sued for child support
Ex-wife says lawmaker owes more than $100,000
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, a first-term Illinois Republican who appears frequently on television demanding the country cut its spending and pay its bills, is being pressed by his ex-wife to hand over more than $100,000 in child support and interest.
Laura J. Walsh filed court papers last December saying he owed her $117,437 in such payments plus interest.
The case is one of two pending against Walsh, 49. A former campaign manager has filed suit seeking $20,000 from the Chicago area lawmaker.
The child-support claim was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times on Thursday. Walsh soon issued a statement saying that the “attacks against me are false” and denouncing the story as a “hit piece.”
Walsh was married for 17 years to Laura Walsh, who lives in the Chicago area. They have two sons, ages 23 and 16, and a daughter, age 20. The next hearing in the case is set for Sept. 14 in Cook County Circuit Court’s Domestic Relations Division.
Walsh won office against three-term incumbent Democrat Melissa Bean despite the disclosure of past financial problems. He had a condo in Evanston, Ill., that he lost to foreclosure and state and federal tax liens, which later were satisfied. He is now married to Helene Miller-Walsh, who is his campaign treasurer.
Jack Coladarci, who represents Laura Walsh, said she is a non-practicing attorney who works for Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical firm.
“Laura needs the money,” Coladarci said. “She’s been scraping by pretty much on her own for years, trying to collect from Joe. It’s been very, very hard to raise three children on one income, as anyone who has done that knows. He hasn’t been particularly helpful in that aspect since 2005.”
The attorney said that in addition to the $117,437 in late child support payments and interest, Walsh owes $9,639 for his share of certain educational, extra-curricular, medical, dental and insurance expenses for the children. He also said that Laura Walsh has asked to be reimbursed for legal fees.
Coladarci said he and Rep. Walsh’s lawyer, R. Steven Polachek, were working toward a settlement without the “destructive invective” that marks some divorce cases. Polachek did not return phone calls for comment.
Already, $2,135 a month is being taken from Walsh’s paychecks so he may meet his ongoing child-support obligations, Coladarci said. Members of Congress earn $174,000 a year.
In the unrelated lawsuit, former campaign manager Keith Liscio has sued Walsh for $20,000 in Cook County Circuit Court. Attorneys in that case told a judge this month that they were working toward a settlement.