AZ Sheriff, Congressional Candidate Threatens To Deport Gay Lover

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu resigned his post as co-chair of the Mitt Romney campaign in Arizona after Phoenix New Times reported that he threatened a former lover with deportation if the man (“Jose”) ever told anyone of their relationship.

Babeu has denied this particular allegation, but told reporters at a press conference over the weekend that he was relieved his sexual orientation was out in the open, and was set to continue his run as a Republican candidate for Arizona’s 4th congressional district.

According to the New Times’ original report, Babeu tried to force his former lover — a Mexican national from Central Mexico — to sign an agreement not to tell anyone about their relationship. When he refused, Babeu:

threatened his Mexican ex-lover with deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship…The 34-year-old from central Mexico charges that the sheriff’s lawyer warned against mentioning the affair with Babeu. DeRose (the lawyer) said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Jose, attention that could result in his deportation, Jose says.

Jose told the publication the pair met at a website, gay.com, and that he began to update Babeu’s Twitter, Facebook and campaign websites. As their relationship soured, Jose got a lawyer and eventually went to the press.

There are several hypocrisies in this story, but the most obvious is that Babeu was threatening Jose with deportation only if his personal issues weren’t resolved. All the while, he was appearing in national media and politics as another tough on immigration local law enforcement officials. Meanwhile, Pinal County Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Rios called for Babeu to resign immediately.

Read the original story here, what do you think?

[Photo By pinalcountyaz.gov]

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