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* A judge today ruled that Congressman Joe Walsh has to prove why he doesn’t owe $100,000 in back child support…
A judge in Chicago issued a preliminary ruling Wednesday against U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) in the Tea Party favorite’s child-support dispute with his ex-wife, ordering Walsh to explain why he appears to be $100,000 behind on his child-support payments.
Cook County Circuit Judge Raul Vega also wanted to know why Walsh wasn’t in court for the hearing — the McHenry Republican’s ex-wife, Laura Walsh was — and said he expects him to show up at the next hearing, in November.
Walsh’s new attorney, Janet Boyle, asked Vega “for what purpose” he wanted the congressman in court.
Vega gave her a puzzled look.
To which Boyle responded: “Mr. Walsh is a U.S. congressman.”
“Well, he’s no different than anyone else,” the judge said.
Ultimately, Laura Walsh’s attorney said the congressman probably wouldn’t have to come to court for the next hearing, after all.
Still, Vega said he was going to issue a “rule to show cause” why Walsh shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for falling behind, according to his ex-wife, by $100,000 in his child support over the past five years.
The effect of that ruling is that, instead of Laura Walsh having to prove that the congressman owes the money, now the burden shifts to the congressman to prove that he doesn’t owe money, according to attorneys for both Walshes.
The judge also stayed a subpoena that Walsh had filed of his ex-wife’s employer after Walsh’s attorney backed away from her attempt to force the ex to show exactly how much money she was making.
* Meanwhile, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is not pleased with this comment by potential primary opponent Debbie Halvorson…
Halvorson sounded very much like a candidate when she said, “He (Jackson) lives in D.C.. He doesn’t come home on weekends. His kids go to school in D.C.”
* Jackson’s response…
“I think it’s helpful when people leave people’s families and children out of political contests,” Jackson said. “People in my district are concerned about employment, they’re concerned about jobs, and I’ve been narrowly focused on that.” […]
Jackson said that because of the schedule set by GOP leaders, he puts his children in school in the nation’s capital. “If they weren’t here, I’d never see my children,” Jackson said. “I want to see my children. It comes with the real estate, it comes with the territory.”
He snapped that “other Members of Congress have grown children,” perhaps a veiled swipe at Halvorson, a mother of four. Her youngest child has graduated from college.
…Adding… Kinda related…
* Political groups owe Illinois $700k in overdue fines, with little reason to pay: The Illinois State Board of Elections posts on its website a list of overdue fines. Close to 200 political committees are there, ranging from the Putnam County Democratic Central Committee, which owes $25, to the Friends of William Burch, which owes $35,500.
* Candidate for Cook County office vows to clear up $17,500 in overdue fines: A politician running for a Cook County office on a message of reform owes more than $17,000 dollars to Illinois’ election board. Ald. Rick Munoz is promising to clear up the overdue fines. Munoz is listed as chairman of a couple campaign funds, including one called the 22nd Ward Independent Political Organization. The fund has racked up big fines this year for failing to file on-time campaign disclosure reports, which are supposed to list who gave the committee money, and how it spent that money. One of the reports was more than a year late. All together, the 22nd Ward campaign fund owes $17,500 in overdue fines to the state board of elections.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:15 pm
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Domestic problems are always messy and seldom does either side tell the whole truth. Why is this being handled in Cook Co. Walsh may be a goof but I’m guessing this is a ploy to make Walsh look bad. Hopefully he is able to solve his issues before leaving the public eye in Jan 2013.
Comment by Fed up Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:21 pm
–Walsh’s new attorney, Janet Boyle, asked Vega “for what purpose” he wanted the congressman in court.–
Yikes. Is that a rookie lawyer or what? Try not to get into the habit of questioning judges. They get a little testy.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:23 pm
this tea bagger type most certainly has the moral terpitude to lead us out of the morass this country finds itself…please give me some of what his supporters are smoking…
Comment by Loop Lady Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:29 pm
Not only is Walsh a U.S. Congressman, he’s a Tea Party Congressman and doesn’t need to answer to government lackeys (like judges.)
Comment by Deep South Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:29 pm
Playing the “do you know who I am” card is hilarious by itself. Sending one’s lawyer to do it is something else.
Comment by Dirt Digger Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:39 pm
Obviously Mr. Walsh was home with the flu when his 6th grade studied the 3 level of government. Tea Party boy has no clue about how the judiciary works…
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:43 pm
And hasn’t Walsh already demonstrated his indifference to his job requirements (such as attending joint sessions of Congress)?
Comment by Dirt Digger Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:43 pm
Ahhhh……Illinois.
The political goofiness just never ends.
Comment by sal-says Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:50 pm
Curious to know if JJJ put his kids in Illinios public schools when Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House. If it was truly the evil GOP’s house schedule, one would think that as of 2008, his kids would have been in Illinois.
Comment by John Galt Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:52 pm
@FedUp: It’s very simple: did Walsh loan his campaign $30K at a time he was behind on child support and could have given his ex-wife the same money? Whatever political spin people put on this wouldn’t change the awfulness of such an act.
Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:57 pm
Just another example of one of those librul-activist-commie-socialist judges out to get a Republican. Those on the right are so victimized, what with everyone always trying to take away their Christmas, freedom, guns, and forcing them to take care of their children. It’s all part of a vast conspiracy headed by Soros. Once the lefties finish vaccinating their daughters from a deadly disease (and lobotomizing them in the process), the dastardly plans will be complete.
Sheesh, I didn’t realize congressmen had to actually show up in court. What a crazy concept.
Comment by TwoFeetThick Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 2:58 pm
I hope Debbie stays with it because I am really looking forward to Halvorson vs. Jackson. Sounds like lots of fun to me.
Comment by Jaded Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:06 pm
Wait wait.
Ricky Munoz is running for Clerk of Court and his ward committee has racked up $17.5K in fines for late filings?
The joke writes itself.
Comment by Dirt Digger Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:07 pm
JJJ’s “reason” for putting his kids in D.C.’s schools is silly. Plenty of Congresspersons have little kids. The current Congressional calendar is NOT so prohibitive that it would not allow for a father of young children to keep his kids in a school back home and come home each weekend. Congresspersons can basically fly for free, so there is no reason for him to not be able to make it from one of the largest airports in America back to the largest airport in America for the weekend.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:41 pm
TS, using this issue as a political club is a bit unseemly. Take it easy.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:45 pm
Which committee has been fined for submitting a false report?
False reports don’t cause committees to be fined; late reports do.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:48 pm
Can I take a moment to express my appreciation to Joe Walsh and his legal counsel for continuing to maximize the entertainment value of what could otherwise be a run-of-the-mill deadbeat dad case.
Thanks!
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:51 pm
For those of you not lawyers — A Rule to Show Cause is a very big deal. It is short for “Rule to Show Cause Why [Insert Name] Should Not Be Held in Contempt of Court.” A Rule is issued when the court finds a party in clear and intentional violation of an order. The person named (Walsh) then has the burden of explaining why the court should not enter a substantial sanction (ranging from fines to being locked up until the person complies).
They are not issues on minor matters. The judge needs to be outraged.
This is not good for Walsh. He needs to come to court with hat (and hopefully a big check to his ex-wife) in hand.
Which, of course, many of us (i.e. those who think a father should support his kids) would pay to see.
Comment by Skeeter Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:52 pm
Didn’t Walsh also fail to show up in traffic court, wasn’t that why he lost his license?
Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:54 pm
Wow, even Randy Hultgren could blow this guy out of the water.
Pretty embarrassing for the Tea Party that their “big victory” in Illinois turned out to be a disaster.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:56 pm
Fed up said:
“I’m guessing this is a ploy to make Walsh look bad.”
FYI, it’s working.
Comment by just sayin' Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:57 pm
===“I’m guessing this is a ploy to make Walsh look bad.”
Why would Joe Walsh not pay child support to make himself look bad? I don’t understand his motivation.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 3:59 pm
QOTD: Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Deadbeat), announced his intention to handle his ongoing child support case “legally and privately.” Question: how do you think his strategy is going so far? Rate it first, then explain your answer.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:01 pm
Yeah, obviously the ex is trying to make him look bad by asking for back support….
Then again this is somehow Obama’s fault
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:05 pm
Also with the kids going to school in the DC area (majority of the year) how can Mrs. Jackson be an alderman?
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:13 pm
OneMan, they rotate back and forth. It’s in an earlier article.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:14 pm
Rich - I’m not using it as a club but I think his constituents should be demanding answers.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:15 pm
About what? He wants to see his kids during the week. Can you blame him? Nuff said.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:18 pm
oh… Thanks
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:39 pm
I think the whole walsh debate comes down to a single question next spring-do 14th or 8th district republicans care more about his political work in dc -which has been stronger than hultgrens or his personal baggage. At this point I think the former.
The sun times I think has failed in its job as a newsoutlet. since 2009 they’ve virtually ignored the tea party and suburban congressional republicans despite their importance to readers with the exception of walsh’s personal problems and the expected shots from their columnists. they want to cover walsh’s issues, that’s their call, but it looks horrible for them when that’s all they cover of the right of center movement.
Comment by Shore Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:53 pm
===right of center movement===
I’d rather not get into a semantics debate, but this is quite understated, don’t you think?
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:54 pm
Fed Up– it’s likely in Cook County because she lives there, or because the original divorce took place there. If you are thinking it’s in Cook County to make Walsh look bad, you should check your foil hat at the door and get informed.
Skeeter– I agree a rule to show cause CAN be a big deal, but the reality is that they are issued all the time based on someone’s allegations alone. There has been no actual finding of contempt, and a contempt finding IS a big deal.
RE Jackson, I agree that taking shots at someone’s family is a no-no. But, I don’t think Halvorson attacked JJJ’s family; she used them to point out that he is removed from his district. On the other hand, accusing someone else of attacking your family, or spinning some arguably mild comments into an attack on one’s family, can yield good political mileage.
Comment by Son of a Centrist Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:56 pm
Tea Party Deadbeat Joe needs some more face time on Fox. Maybe he can get some handouts…Maybe GBTV can give him one of their 800 and he can raise cash that way. Of course GBTV gets their 6% handling fee.
Good stuff
Fire. Aim Ready
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 4:57 pm
Walsh’s attorney should have replied that she (the atty) told Walsh not to be in court (assuming that is the truth, which I believe it to be).
Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 5:17 pm
Walsh should rush on Greta with the mouth piece and claim Bill Ayers put his greedy ex up to do this to help Obama and then ask her and GBTV to host a telethon so he can mooch some ( less GBTV 6%) moolah.
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 6:27 pm
Rick Munoz (aka friend of Bill Wilson) in financial hot water? Who would have seen that coming? The People’s Republic of Munoz- has NO problem spending other people’s money. He feins no activity on behalf of his IPO, yet they have served to raise money for his bud Lozano and Chuy Garcia? Follow the $.
Comment by Statesman Wednesday, Sep 14, 11 @ 7:21 pm
13million people in this state and we can’t find 100+/- sane, smart and normal people to run for office and get them elected?
Comment by Shemp Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 12:16 am
Shemp, the reason we can’t find good people to run for office is because we tear them apart and blame them for everything once they are in office, and we don’t pay them enough to deal with the crap they are expected to put up with.
Too often, only people with big egos or people who use political office to make money want to do it.
Comment by Its Just Me Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 1:34 am
Shore, do you really think the Tea Partiers have been ignored? It seems to me that their unfocused anger is dominating the national debate, to our detriment.
It’s easy to be angry, and there’s plenty to be angry about. But once you put on the big boy pants, you have to choke it down and deal with things as they are, not how you wish they could be.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 15, 11 @ 8:16 am