Paul Babeu Says He is Gay Amid Misconduct Allegations, Quits Romney Campaign
A sheriff from Arizona has resigned from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's Arizona committee after admitting that he was gay due to allegations that became public concerning misconduct made by a man he previously had a relationship with.
The official, Paul Babeu, is from Pinal County and had promised to continue his campaign for the republican nomination in Arizona's 4th Congressional District.
Reports state that Babeu had threatened the man, who was a Mexican immigrant and a former campaign volunteer for Babeu, if their past relationship was made public. The man's allegations were first published Friday in the Phoenix New Times which is an alternative lifestyle magazine.
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"This whole rumor, this whole of idea of who I am in my private life has been shopped around," Babeu told reporters during the press conference.
"This was a way, the hook, of how this could be brought out, and to malign and attack a sheriff who does stand for conservative principals, who does enforce the law," he said.
Babeu vehemently denied any wrongdoing at his press conference at police headquarters. The press conference was attended by about three dozen high-ranking uniformed deputies, local elected officials and citizens.
"I'm here to say that all the allegations that were in the story were untrue – except for the instance that refers to me as gay," Babeu said. "That's the truth – I am gay."
Babeu is taking on an incumbent tea party Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, and state Sen. Ron Gould, from northwestern Arizona, in August's 4th District primary.
Gould commented on photos of Babeu which were found on various websites.
Gould said he felt Babeu's actions of posting pictures on what the lawmaker called a "homosexual hookup website" was a "Congressman Weiner type of moment."
"The real issue here is the poor judgment of a government official, posting those kinds of photos on a public website," Gould said. "I think that shows a lack of good judgment."
