Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu drops bid for Congress after fallout from campaign volunteer scandal

[Eugene]

Source: CBS/AP

May 11, 2012 12:42 PM

Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu drops bid for Congress after fallout from campaign volunteer scandal

(CBS/AP) FLORENCE, Ariz. - A conservative Arizona sheriff who announced he is gay amid allegations of abuse of power said Friday he is no longer running for Congress, CBS affiliate KPHO-TV reports.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu's campaign said Friday that he is dropping out of Arizona's 4th Congressional District race and will instead seek re-election as sheriff.

The Republican lawman is known for his stance on illegal immigration and border security. His image took a beating this year when a former boyfriend claimed the sheriff threatened him with deportation.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

In April, the Office of Special Counsel, which was looking into allegations that Babeu and several key aides were working on his congressional campaign with county resources while on duty, issued subpoenas to Babeu's office and the county board after Babeu's office refused to turn over two laptops for inspection.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505103_162-57432705/arizona-sheriff-paul-babeu-drops-bid-for-congress-after-fallout-from-campaign-volunteer-scandal/

[Tansy_Gold]

1. Well, well, well.

I suppose sufficient of my fellow citizens of Pinal County will go ahead and re-elect this filthy piece of trash. Some of us were hoping Babeu would fail in his congressional bid and be too late to refile for sheriff, but it looks now like he's given up on the former and will try to hang onto the latter.

Now that his good buddy Bryan Martyn has landed a cushy six-figure state job (for which he is like soooo totally unqualified) I guess Babeu figures there are no rules regarding qualifications, legalities, nothin' if you're a good ol' puke.

I have nothing but the utmost loathing for these worthless dregs of questionable humanity.

[ellisonz]

2. Calculating move to not drop out immediately...