Illinois Dem clears up personal life before mulling Senate

An Illinois Democrat is taking pains now to clear the air about his personal life before a possible Senate run in 2016. 

Three-term Rep. Bill Foster, who won easily in November, and his ex-wife Ann, say there is no truth to allegations in their 1996 divorce that the congressman abused her, the Chicago-Sun Times reported on Friday. 

{mosads}Foster is considering a run for Republican Sen. Mark Kirk’s seat in the next election cycle and the 59-year-old physicist wants to put any misinformation to rest about the split. 

The court document shows that Ann Foster asked her husband to move out of their house because “the Defendant has pushed, shoved, and caused physical abuse and emotional harm of the Plaintiff, thereby putting her in fear for not only herself but also for the parties (sic) minor children.”

But Ann Foster said she did not read the filing before signing and she told the judge there was never any abuse and the judge allowed her husband to remain in the house. 

She said that the divorce filing has generated round-the-clock calls from reporters during Bill Foster’s election campaigns, including robo calls asking voters if they are aware of Foster’s history as a “wife-abuser.”

“Ever since Bill decided to go into politics, every single campaign season since 2008, there are a number of months when I am plagued by constant phone calls,” Ann Foster said. 

“Sometimes in the middle of the night. Dozens of them.”

The Fosters used a mediator to wrap up details on their divorce that included joint custody and a financial plan that allowed Ann Foster to remain close to her ex-husband in the same suburb so they could each be close to their children. 

Ann Foster said she fully backed the idea so as a working, single-mother who made less money than her husband she could afford to stay nearby. 

At the time, the judge expressed concerns that the financial incentive would hold her “hostage,” which is another word used in against Foster during his campaigns. 

“A divorce,” Ann Foster said choking up a bit, “is an end to dreams. But since that time we are like old friends.”

Both are remarried and Ann has supported her ex-husband in his new career in Washington. In fact, she stood by Bill Foster’s wife at his 2008 swearing-in ceremony. 

The two said they have been discussing the idea about publicly airing the details about their divorce to set the story straight. 

“Maybe we just need to get this on the record,” Ann Foster said.  

“So I can now say, I already told my story. Don’t bother me anymore.”