Joe Walsh Financial Disclosure Forms Show No Delinquent Child Support: Ethics Probe Coming?

Over the weekend, freshman Tea Party Congressman Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) vowed to "privately and legally" fight claims by his ex-wife that he owes more than $100,000 in child support. He insisted that he wasn't a deadbeat dad, but as Talking Points Memo reported Tuesday, if he owes even a fraction of that amount, he could be in hot water with the House Ethics Committee.

According to TPM, Walsh did not include any child support debt on his financial disclosure forms, which require politicians to list any liability worth more than $10,000. To avoid the probe, Walsh could file amended forms including the child support, but owning up to the charges could be a political nightmare.

"I have been accused of not being a wonderful dad, and I am going to fight that charge," Walsh told a crowd at a town hall meeting in suburban Barrington over the weekend. (Scroll down for video) "But I am going to fight that charge privately, quietly and legally. "

Walsh's ex wife, Laura Walsh, filed the claim against him in December as part of their divorce case, saying he owed $117,437 to her and their three children, the Chicago Sun-Times reported in late July. She claims that Walsh loaned his own campaign $35,000 and took international vacations but said he couldn't afford child support payments because he was between jobs or out of work.

Walsh's attorney, R. Steven Polachek, denied that the congressman owed $117,437 in back child support and interest and said the amount was much less.

"I dispute that he owes the child support that she's claiming or anywhere near that amount," Polachek told the paper. "Joe Walsh hasn't been a big-time wage-earner politician until recently - he's had no more problems with child support than any other average guy."

Before the child support story came to light, Walsh was making rounds on cable news shows speaking out against the president and accusing him of lying about the impact of not raising the national debt ceiling. He also consistently accuses Democrats of being unable to manage their finances.

"Technically, he could be taken to task by the Ethics Committee or even the Justice Department for failure to file proper disclosure forms, but in all likelihood the Ethics Committee and Justice would be satisfied if Walsh were to file amended forms," Public Citizen's Craig Holman told Talking Points Memo.

The congressman's alleged financial problems made headlines while he was campaigning last year, when former campaign field director Richard Cape claimed he would "spend, spend, spend uncontrollably." His campaign manager quit and sued for $20,000 in nonpayment, and two other staffers who quit accused him of not properly disclosing a 2008 home foreclosure and traffic citations to the public, taking their grievances public. Walsh also bounced checks, including one to a Republican fundraiser.

WATCH part of Walsh's town hall meeting in Barrington here:

Comments

[woombie]

09:57 PM on 09/15/2011

Joe missed his court date for child support. He used the excuse that he had to vote in Washington. He didnt vote either yes or no. He just signed present. He didnt have to go. This is another excuse to get out of court. Be a man. Go and take care of your kids.

[woombie]

09:50 PM on 09/15/2011

He didnt show up for his court date for child support because he had to vote in Washington. He didnt have to go and vote. Bachmann was not there. He didnt vote either yes or no. He voted present. He got out of this again. He is using his tv video to tell people lies about his child support. Hey be a man. Go and take care of your kids and stop using them.

[Tommygun264]

12:59 AM on 08/15/2011

Just another deadbeat bagger. Perhaps if Walsh hadn't taken his new wife and kids on a trip to Europe and loaned his own campaign $35K while he was supposedly "broke", he might garner a bit of sympathy. There's also the bagger convention organizers being sued by a hotel in Las Vegas for "bagging out" on their commitment to rent several rooms and convention space after the gathering fell apart due to lack of interest. Like right wing anti-gay rights crusaders who turn out to be self-loathing closet cases, deadbeat baggers who don't want pay their own way, let alone help fellow citizens less fortunate than themselves, are proving the rule rather than the exception.

[KadejaLatefah]

09:15 PM on 08/14/2011

hey jack (of all trades) nobody wants you to talk about your kids --we just want you to support tehm.

[asta1968]

11:10 PM on 08/11/2011

A jack of all trades that doesn't pay child support.

Let's see if Issa does his job...........................................

[FilmCriticOne]

11:11 PM on 08/10/2011

What a fake. He won't talk about his CHILDREN? No one asked him too -- he was asked about HIS payments to his children. IT's about the payments.

WHY DIDNT YOU PAY? he won't say.

Maybe there is a good reason --he didn't have the income. Maybe embarrassing, but say it.

This guy is evasive and pompus at the same time.

[Tommygun264]

01:01 AM on 08/15/2011

He claimed he didn't have the income, but during that time he not only took his new wife to Europe, but according to financial disclosure forms Walsh loaned his own campaign $35K.

[wandal]

09:27 PM on 08/10/2011

joe walsh, take care of your children first. Get over your aspirations of being some kind of politician and take care of your business at home. Money isn't everything , be a dad, it's more important than anything.

[Barbara Brown Baulding]

08:45 PM on 08/10/2011

And this man became a Congressman. It's up to you people of Chicago do not return this man to Congress. It is my understanding that Congress is suppose to be made up of honorable women and men, this man has no honor....

[thecmb66]

07:21 PM on 08/10/2011

If you don't pay your Child Support, your basically a thief stealing from you own children...

[slavegirltoqueen]

06:53 PM on 08/10/2011

"His campaign manager quit and sued for $20,000 in nonpayment, and two other staffers who quit accused him of not properly disclosing a 2008 home foreclosure and traffic citations to the public, taking their grievances public. Walsh also bounced checks, including one to a Republican fundraiser." and he is accused of being grossly back on his child support?..His mama and district must be so proud.

[hotbarb2614]

04:36 PM on 08/10/2011

I've notice lately that Walsh likes to hang around Boehner and Cantor when they are talking to the press, he thinks he's a big shot now, can't wait till nexted year.

[hotbarb2614]

04:27 PM on 08/10/2011

He is going to fight this and can't talk about this, Excuse me ypour not on trial you owe money for child support, WOW you can go on trips withj your girlfriend but can't pay cjhild support, throw this loudmouth dead beat man in the slammer.

[capt hastings]

04:14 PM on 08/10/2011

This guy is becoming toxic; anyone involved with him should run now.

[GirlUsingBrain]

03:12 PM on 08/10/2011

A first-class charlatan.

So glad he has been outed.

[ThinkingHelps]

02:27 PM on 08/10/2011

Liar, liar, pants on fire...

[Ken Overholt]

12:52 PM on 08/13/2011

Yes he is and brazen at that. I have noticed that about so many of these TP people. They say that they are every man and populists, but in reality think that they are above everyone else and above the system. This guy, for example, is going to give us all a lesson on economics when he can't even pay his bills. Christine O'Donnell was fiscally irresponsible in her personal life too, but no one ever took her to task for it.