Joe Arpaio: Paul Babeu Is 'Going To Have To Work Through' Scandal

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio distanced himself from fellow sheriff Paul Babeu, who was outed as gay last week and accused of threatening his ex-boyfriend with deportation.

Arpaio, "America's toughest sheriff," said he wouldn't be giving advice to Babeu, who stepped down from his position as the Arizona co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in the wake of the allegations.

"He's going to have to work through this," Arpaio said Monday during an interview with CNN's John King. "I'm not going to give him any advice."

Arpaio also said he hasn't made a decision on whether he will support Babeu in the race for Arizona's 4th Congressional District, despite the fact that Babeu had asked for his endorsement.

Babeu publicly denied the deportation allegations, but did acknowledge that he'd had a three-year relationship with his accuser, a man only identified as Jose.

"One, he's legal. He has said that. I've said that," Babeu said of Jose. "And then, in addition, this whole thing about deportation, we all know I don't have deportation authority. I have the authority to arrest. There were several crimes committed here against me and my campaign."

After coming out as gay, Babeu expressed his support of same-sex marriage in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

"If it's not harming somebody else, then it doesn't matter," Babeu said. "You can't legislate love."

Comments

[Sean777]

06:52 PM on 02/23/2012

If Paul Babeu broke the law SB1070 to conceal his lover, why he has not been arrested by Joe Arpaio?
Is this law SB1070 designed only to intimidate Hispanics with treats of deportation?
How many Hispanics have been extorted by unscrupulous Arizonian natives using SB1070 as a blackmailing tool?

[natureman44]

04:14 PM on 02/22/2012

Why are you you liberals treating this as something repubs.should be ashamed that Paul Babeu is gay. The only people that consider it something to be ashamed of and hidden from the public are the democrats and liberals. But everyone is starting to become aware that you progressive liberals are the real bigots and homophobes., You only use them for votes and you consider them useful.. But after the election they find themselves alone again and on their own until the next election and you need them again.

[Sean777]

07:03 PM on 02/23/2012

Babeu came out as gay only because his undocumented lover had compromising pictures. Babue’s position about immigration reform is like Mary Claire Cheney’s position about gay marriage, both are total contradictions.

[genebo6]

01:59 PM on 02/22/2012

Paul shouldn't have to worry. Barney Frank is gay. Paul may have to change to the democrats. They are liberal and will, and should accept him as one of them

[lmayj]

12:55 PM on 02/22/2012

what a mess for the republicans....the excitement never ends

[Dang Ph]

12:00 PM on 02/22/2012

Now the GOP masters throw their own slave to the bonfire for sacrifice. I like it because it's a clear message to the blind Republican Gays and Color Peoples.

[mira chancleta]

11:38 AM on 02/22/2012

Seriously, if you wrote this as a screenplay...

"REJECTED AS ABSURD & UNBELIEVABLE"... would be stamped on the 1st page!

[den1953]

11:20 AM on 02/22/2012

Ok i see a Republican grudge match politically speaking............

[SalesmanForLife]

10:44 AM on 02/22/2012

What is the story here? You know, when it comes to republican thinking, nothing makes sense. So, what is the deal? The drama kings in the republican world are always throwing tantrums because of hurt wittle feewlings or when loosing idealogical control of their weely wonerful fwee wittle world.

[bellsblu2]

01:07 PM on 02/22/2012

Nobody's accusing today's Republicans of logic, reason, or empathy... Only of being the opposite of them.

[JoseJalapeno]

10:09 AM on 02/22/2012

So the Acme anvil is walking away from the Coyote.

[thewholestory]

09:27 AM on 02/22/2012

Why would anyone CHOOSE to be a Republican in this day and age?

[bellsblu2]

01:34 PM on 02/22/2012

Because FOX News, (the "bias catering" company) told them to...

[CanYouSeeThemNow]

03:11 PM on 02/22/2012

No one chooses to be a Republican or Democrat. Aren't you born that way?

[thewholestory]

09:46 AM on 02/23/2012

My bad!

[rdk70816]

09:21 AM on 02/22/2012

So? It is not Joe Arpaio's business or obligation to help Paul Babeu.

[bellsblu2]

01:35 PM on 02/22/2012

You would think he's come to the aid of a brother officer....

But you'd be wrong... LOL

[rdk70816]

02:21 PM on 02/22/2012

Nope. He does not live on the edge.

[gDogMan]

09:15 AM on 02/22/2012

What were the crimes comitted against him and his campaign? How were they justification for threatening his ex-lover if he disclosed their relationship, but not justification for arresting him?

This is going to get worse for Babeu before it gets batter. The longer this stays in the news, the more details that are disclosed, the farther under the bus his fellow partisans will throw him.

[shanghaislim]

09:13 AM on 02/22/2012

I'm so confused...........

[JoseJalapeno]

10:08 AM on 02/22/2012

Apparently, so is Babeu.

[den1953]

11:22 AM on 02/22/2012

They are printing T Shirts as we type!

[jpmeville]

09:05 AM on 02/22/2012

First, Who would want any help, advice or support from Arpaio? He is a very shady character who is under indictment. Second, now Babeu can see that the republican party go after their own with more zeal than they do against their opponents. Good luck with the election, Babeu. I'll bet he is having a very hard time getting a date these days. He is a portrait of self-hatred.

[p456]

08:43 AM on 02/22/2012

I thought Joe was investigating if president Obama is a legal citizen or not. I guess he has doubled down on his h8 parade, now he has a gay man to pick on as well as Hispanics and African Americans.

[mira chancleta]

11:39 AM on 02/22/2012

...and don't even mention the homeless outside his office.