Ex-wife: Ill. congressman owes $117K child support

[July 28, 2011]  CHICAGO (AP) -- The ex-wife of Illinois U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh has sued her ex-husband for more than $117,000 in what she says is unpaid child support and interest.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Laura Walsh filed the claim in December in their divorce case. The first-term Republican has been outspoken against tax increases amid the debt showdown between GOP lawmakers and the White House.

Laura Walsh contends the congressman loaned his own campaign $35,000. She calls that "surprising" given the money she says he owes to support their three children.

Congressman Walsh answered in a February court filing that he thought he and his ex-wife were coming to an agreement on the money owed. His attorney, R. Steven Polachek, denies the congressman owes "anywhere near" the amount Laura Walsh claims.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/

[Associated Press]

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