Romney Arizona co-chair quits

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeau speaks at a news conference, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 in Florence, Ariz. Babeau, a sheriff seeking the GOP nomination for an Arizona congressional seat has been forced to confirm he is gay amid allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom he previously had a relationship. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeau on Saturday denied claims he tried to threaten the man, who is Hispanic, with deportation if their past relationship was made public. / Deirdre Hamill,AP Photo/The Arizona Republic

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu speaks at a news conference, Feb. 18, 2012 in Florence, Ariz.

/ Deirdre Hamill,AP Photo/The Arizona Republic

Updated 11:15 p.m. ET

An Arizona co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign resigned after allegations of misconduct were made by an ex-boyfriend in a Phoenix newspaper on Thursday.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denied the allegations in the article in a press conference on Saturday, calling them "completely false."  He also publicly announced he is gay.

The Romney campaign said they received a call from Babeu and accepted his resignation.

"Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him. We support his decision," spokesperson Ryan Williams said.

Arizona is holding its primary on February 28, and all four candidates will be in the state Wednesday for a CNN-sponsored debate.

The Phoenix New Times reported Thursday allegations from Babeu's ex-boyfriend "Jose," who said the sheriff threatened him with deportation if he told anyone about their relationship.

Babeu said in the news conference that he is no longer working with the Romney campaign. "I called the Romney campaign, and I told him I'm going to step away from the campaign," Babeu told reporters.

Babeu's own political aspirations might now be on the line. In his role as sheriff, Babeu advocated for strong border security and immigration enforcement. He is running to replace Democratic Rep. Ed Pastor in the fourth Congressional district of Arizona on a tough immigration stance.

He has become a Republican voice on the issue appearing on Fox News and spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week where he talked about the "assault" the federal government is imposing on Arizona for suing over the harsh immigration law SB 1070.

[ProgressNow]

Soooooo...when Sheriff Poofta said to John McCain, "You one of us Senator!" did he mean that McCain is a huge Homooooooo????? Come on John...come out of the Senatorial closet!!!!!!!!!

[erpicferl]

don't drop your phone at the republican convention, you might just have your pants ripped off trying to retrieve it.

[norcalruss]

Gotta love it when one of these homophobic GOP candidates has a staffer who is a closet fudge-packer. Now this sheriff is a real stand up guy for the party of morals, family values, and hypocrites. He runs on a platform of deporting undocumented workers but has one as his boyfriend!

[magnumdr]

Is it gay or queer? I don't even know. I would like to thank all of the gay men for leaving all of the beautiful women alone for the rest of us "MEN". You guys don't know what you are missing out on. Can you say the word soft or femenine or Vagina or breast. I didn't think so.

[fantod-2009]

Can you spell the word feminine? Can you say the word homophobe? How about bigot?

[MTATL670]

Why is it a great big circus when a Gay republican comes out but no big deal when a Gay Democrat comes out. Oh, yeah that's right we don't care. I just have to laugh at the irony of Republicans calling the President divisive when the Democratic party embraces everyone the Republicans reject.

[Zann-Zel]

So let me get this straight(no pun intended there) - Its okay to be gay if you're republican as long as you Hide it, and force your partners to hide it. But to come out and be honest with the world thats wrong.

Why can't we just stop worrying about what kind of Sex someone has?? : /

[Parrots10]

Tell that to your Republican leaders trying to make it a wedge issue .....

[jimatmadison]

Q: How many Republican politicians can you fit into a closet?

A: Apparently all of them.

[Zann-Zel]

Apparently you're correct!

[Lindag10]

So this dude spoke at the CPAC convention and now admits he's gay. Too bad all the social conservatives and religious folk found out AFTERWARDS. They could have had a great time beating the sh*t out of him, if they'd known this while he was there. LOL

[pbaird2]

It is more difficult to be known Gay in Law Enforcement than ever in the military. Sadly, since so many in Law Enforcement are Gay. There is no hypocrisy other than IF he had an illegal immigrant as a partner. Gays are also conservative, macho, gun enthusiasts, and even Republican. What homophobes do not get is that the stereotype is not represented by most Gays. When we quit worrying about an individual's sexuality we can move on to the important issues affecting society which spans all of us: greed, poverty, adequate pay, safe food and drugs, affordable health care, etc.

[tvwatcher5345]

the GOP (gay old party)is certainly living up to its name lately, first they come to the defense of the roman catholic church, now this