Seems one of Jerry’s aides didn’t like political reporter Mike Flannery’s questions and pushed him down a stairwell at the Joliet Junior College after this announcement. Flannery plans to sue. There’s also a report from last night that he DOESN’T plan to step down. I think he’s H I S T O R Y! AMF!!!

Amid a growing list of questions about his Nicaraguan land dealings, his wife’s investments and his relationship to an indicted defense contractor, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) announced Friday he will not seek another term.

The seven-term congressman whose district includes Joliet said he was calling it quits after 25 years in politics to spend more time with his wife, Guatemalan legislator Zury Rios de Weller, and their 1-year-old daughter. He made the announcement at a luncheon of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce, which gave Weller its Spirit of Enterprise Award.

A Tribune investigation recently revealed Weller failed to disclose several Nicaraguan land transactions on his congressional ethics forms. The newspaper also recently reported that a charity formed by his wife raised questions about whether he had legally excluded her assets from congressional filings.

Weller also is among 13 House members subpoenaed to testify in the criminal case of a defense contractor accused of bribing then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.). They are fighting the subpoenas.

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