As reported by several news sources, including the Chicago Sun-Times, CNN and Politico, an Illinois Representative, known for battling to decrease the nation's debt, is being sued by his former wife for his own debt - almost $120,000 in unpaid child support.
J.W. is being accused in the suit of using money, which should have been paid in child support, for foreign vacations with his new girlfriend. At the same period, J.W. had allegedly claimed that he was out of work and couldn't keep up with his support payments.
During an interview with CNN, J.W. didn't deny owing $117,437 and failed to offer an explanation as to why he didn't pay. He told CNN that he is more in tune with the financial troubles of the USA than he is with his own.
J.W. said, "Look, I'm the most openly vetted candidate in the world. I've had financial troubles and I've talked about them throughout the campaign. This is where America is."
He further claimed that his child support battle was only out there in the mainstream media because his opponents leaked the information. The news was allegedly made during a debt ceiling debate.
J.W. continued, "It's interesting that it just broke right now as I'm out there trying my best to fight this president and fight the Democrats and solve this debt crisis. Sen. (J.M.) and folks like him who have been in this town for so long and have no clue as to the troubles Americans are going through right now, they don't understand this crisis anymore."
R. Steven Polachek, J.W.'s attorney, told reporters for the Chicago Sun-Times, "I dispute that he owes the child support that she's claiming or anywhere near that amount. (J.W.) 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."
J.W. was married to L.W., a pharmaceutical attorney, for 15 years before the couple broke up in 2002. Each blames the other for the child custody case's delay.
They had three children during their marriage - now aged 23, 20 and 16.
Before 2010, per court documents, J.W. said that he could not afford his child support payments as he was either in between jobs or out of work completely. It was at this time he also allegedly loaned his campaign $35,000 and, per L.W., took three trips abroad: Mexico and Italy with his girlfriend, and brought their son to Nicaragua.
Attorneys for L.W. wrote in one filing, "The apparent availability of large sums of money from either his employment, his family or his campaign has allowed him to live quite a comfortable lifestyle, while at the same time, due to his failure to pay child support or any of his share of the education costs or medical expenses, (L.W.) and his children were denied any of these advantages."
Court records also mention that J.W. objected to paying for summer camp, and in one instance, a homecoming suit for his son.
If you are battling child support issues, contact a family law attorney for assistance.
If you don't work in the public arena you may not be subjected to media scrutiny - as has been the case here
.