Arizona Sheriff Babeu Says He Will Stay In GOP Congressional Race; Wants To Be Judged On Life Of Service Not Private Life; Argues Republican Party One Of Equality

Sheriff Paul Babeu -- whom a former boyfriend recently and publicly accused of threatening to deport him -- denied on Monday that he had done anything illegal, and said he will continue his bid for a congressional seat. “I have never run from a fight and am not going to now,” Babeu told interviewer Wolf Blitzer on CNN’s Situation Room. “I am a single man, never have been married and don’t have a fake girlfriend,” said the law enforcement officer, who also served in the military. "I want to be judged on my life of service." Last week, the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly, reported that Babeu had allegedly threatened to deport his former lover, a Mexican immigrant, if he revealed their relationship. The man was identified only as Jose. Babeu called the deportation threat allegation “slanderous and baseless,” though he acknowledged having had a three-year relationship with the man. He said that Jose was a legal resident and that the sheriff didn’t have the authority to deport anyone. In other interviews, Jose has also said that he is a legal resident. Babeu said that Jose was an expert on social media and websites and had worked on the sheriff’s campaign as a volunteer. He accused his former lover of trying to steal his property, identity and images. He also pointed out the timing of the allegations, coming during a difficult race for the GOP nod for the congressional seat. Despite the close contest, Babeu acknowledged that he was gay, and that he supports gay rights, both positions that could hurt him in the conservative rural district where he is seeking the congressional nomination. “I’m not ashamed of who I am,” Babeu said. “Our party is the big tent, the party of Lincoln and of equality.” In 2008, Babeu defeated a Democrat to become sheriff of Pinal County, south of Phoenix. He has frequently appeared on television to blame the federal government for failing to stop the smuggling of drugs and illegal immigrants across the border. In 2010, Babeu helped Sen. John McCain by campaigning for the Republican’s border security plan. Last week, Babeu spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, hitting hard at issues that appeal to conservatives -- such as the Justice Department's “Operation Fast and Furious” investigation into weapons crossing the border. The controversy over the ex-lover's allegations has led Babeu to quit as a state campaign chairman for GOP contender Mitt Romney. Babeu campaigned with Romney and spoke on robo-calls in Iowa attacking Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has since dropped out of the presidential race.