After he got into hot water for allegedly owing his ex-wife more than $100,000 in unpaid child support, Representative Joe Walsh (R-8th) said it was all a big misunderstanding.
Walsh claimed his wife was making it up at an inopportune time.
The judge overseening Walsh's child support dispute said prove it, the Sun Times reports.
Judge Raul Vega issued a "rule to show cause" order asking why Walsh shouldn't be held in contempt for being so far behind on his payments.
That's not the only thing on the judge's mind today. Vega also wanted to know why Walsh didn't appear in court. Per the Sun-Times:
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.
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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.
Walsh's and his former wife Laura were married in 1987 and split in 2004. They have three children together.
The next court date on the matter is Nov. 8.
