An email from Congressman Joe Walsh:

Dear Friends,

Over 16 months ago, a suit was filed accusing me of owing back child support.

From the very beginning and throughout this entire ordeal, my only public response has been —

“These allegations are false and I am going to fight them with all my strength to clear my name, but I am going to fight them privately, quietly, and legally.”

That’s what I’ve done.

I am very happy to tell you that this morning the case against me has been dismissed, the charges dropped, my name has been cleared, and both my ex-wife and I will go back to raising our three children — ages 24, 21, and 17 — in private.

Below is the joint statement we released immediately after the case was dismissed:

“We both regret this public misunderstanding and the effect it has had on our children.

“Like many families, we have had our share of issues and made our share of mistakes over the years.

“Having resolved these issues together and cleared up these mistakes in private, we now agree that Joe is not and was not a ‘deadbeat dad’ and does not owe child support.

“We both have been loving and devoted parents to our children, ages 24, 21, and 17, and are happy to avoid a public legal fight hurtful to our entire family and look forward to caring for our children in private.”

I am glad this is over.

I don’t regret not fighting back publicly all these months.

Fighting the charges privately and legally was the right thing to do for my kids and it was the fair thing to do to the mother of my kids.

I may have taken some slings and arrows over this issue this past year, but I have no regrets over not waging a public fight.

Though there were plenty of days I wanted to scream my side of the story to the TV or newspapers, I always knew my name would be cleared.

Both my former wife and I have been loving, involved parents for our three wonderful adult and almost adult children, we shared residential custody equally over the years, and we both did our best to send all of them to Catholic grade school and high school.

With these charges and this issue now behind me, I will focus on continuing to represent the good folks of Illinois’ 8th District and running hard to find solutions for the issues voters care about — finding a job, the price of gas at the pump, keeping their home, and doing something about this unconscionable debt we’re placing on the backs of our kids and our grandkids.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and support during this tough period.

It hasn’t been easy. I know I made myself a target by being so outspoken once I got to Washington.

I won’t change who I am. It is gratifying to finally be able to say again to everyone that their Congressman is not a deadbeat dad.

Thank You,

Congressman Joe Walsh