Ill. Congressman responds to child support report

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh says a newspaper report that he’s being sued for more than $100,000 in unpaid child support is a “hit piece.”

In a statement issued today, the tea-party-backed Republican suggests that a Chicago Sun-Times story about his ex-wife’s child support claim is a politically motivated attack. Walsh says the story is old news and that he’s being attacked for being at the forefront of the debate over whether to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

Walsh’s ex-wife, Laura Walsh, filed the claim against him in December as part of their divorce case. The paper reports that she is seeking $117,437 in back child support and interest from her ex-husband.

The congressman’s attorney says that amount is much too high.