ARIZONA: Homocon Anti-Immigrant Sheriff Paul Babeu Announces Another Bid For Congress

In March 2012 the Mexican ex-boyfriend of Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu sued him for $1M, alleging that Babeu had threatened to have him deported if the boyfriend were to out him. Babeu’s run for the US House fizzled shortly thereafter, but not before it was revealed that he had spoken at an event staged by a group that wants to end illegal and most legal immigration and wants to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. Today Babeu announced that he’s making another run for Congress. The Arizona Republic reports:

The Republican lawman, who on a recent tour of the border showed GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson holes in the U.S.-Mexico fence, said he will continue to fight federal inaction on illegal immigration if elected to represent Arizona’s 1st District. “It’s time to bring that fight directly to Washington,” Babeu said. “People don’t want to send the same politicians to Washington to get the same failed policies. … They want to send politicians they can trust with change.” The swing district’s seat is open as U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., runs for Senate, creating a draw for candidates. Already running on the GOP side are oilman Gary Kiehne and former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett. Tom O’Halleran is running as a Democrat after serving in the Legislature as a Republican. Other candidates are expected to jump in as well.

The vast rural district, which includes Flagstaff, suburbs of Tucson and the Navajo Reservation, is one of the largest in the country. Babeu was first elected as sheriff in 2008. He has also served 20 years in the Army National Guard. He deployed to Iraq and commanded a mission to the Mexico border that drove down illegal crossings. In 2012, a former boyfriend, who was an undocumented immigrant, alleged that Babeu threatened to have him deported if he revealed their relationship. A state investigation exonerated Babeu, but the incident eroded his support and he dropped out of the race. Babeu said he regrets not publicly sharing earlier that he is gay, which he thinks might have prevented some of the controversy. But Babeu said his support continues to be high.

Last year Babeu led a mob of raging teabaggers as they screamed abuse at migrant children being transported on federal buses.
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