Ex-Rep. Joe Walsh threatens to sue Chicago Sun-Times over child support story

By Cameron Joseph - 02/12/13 09:59 AM ET

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) is threatening to sue the Chicago Sun-Times over a story that he was once again behind on child support payments to his ex-wife.

Walsh, whose already uphill 2012 reelection chances were hurt by a series of stories that his ex-wife was suing him over more than $100,000 in unpaid child support payments, eventually reached a settlement that included a joint statement saying he wasn't a "deadbeat dad."

On Monday the Sun-Times published a story saying he was once again behind on payments to her that were dictated in the settlement. The story said Walsh had filed court papers seeking to end his obligation to pay more than $2,000 per month in child support after his job in Congress had ended.

Walsh responded with an open letter titled "I will sue the Chicago Sun-Times" that calls the original story "an absolute lie" and argues that he'd only sought to modify the payments, not end them, because his work situation had changed. The letter was also published on Walsh's website.

"This article by the Sun Times is a deliberate attempt to defame me, and I will sue them immediately," Walsh writes in the letter, which was also sent to his supporters. "My adult children have been my life. I pledged to them two years ago that I would fight these charges privately to keep them out of the news, but with the Chicago Sun Times fabricating a story, I am, at long last, going to fight back."

The original story didn't quote Walsh or his attorney, though it has since been updated to include comments from both after the letter was released early Tuesday morning.

While the letter on Walsh's website includes updates showing the story's changes, its headline threatening a lawsuit and the related paragraphs have not been altered.

Walsh has launched a conservative super-PAC and flirted with the idea of running for governor or senator in 2014, though that has seemed less likely in recent weeks. He is also trying to land a radio deal.