Romney Campaigner in Arizona Resigns After Accusation Paul Babeu, an up-and-coming member of the Republican Party, stepped down from his role as a co-chairman of Mitt Romney's Arizona campaign on Saturday, in the wake of allegations that he threatened to deport a Mexican ex-boyfriend when the man refused to keep quiet about their relationship. Mr. Babeu was the sheriff of Pinal County and made national headlines for his tough stance on illegal immigration. He endorsed Mr. Romney in October and is running for Congress in Arizona's Fourth District. The news of Mr. Babeu's decision to step down from the Romney campaign was first reported by The Arizona Republic. On Thursday, The Phoenix New Times reported the allegations of a 34-year-old Mexican man whom they identified only as "Jose." He claimed that when he refused to sign an agreement that he would never mention his affair with Mr. Babeu, which lasted years, the sheriff and his lawyer tried to intimidate him with threats of deportation. Mr. Babeu has denied the charges. "Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him," said Andrea Saul, a campaign spokeswoman, in an e-mail statement. We support his decision. When Mr. Babeu threw his support behind Mr. Romney in October, however, he had nothing but kind words for the sheriff. "It is an honor to have the support of Sheriff Babeu," Mr. Romney said at the time, in an e-mail announcement released by his campaign. His efforts working to protect our border are critical to lowering crime, reducing illegal immigration and stopping both drug and human trafficking. Sheriff Babeu has been a leader in the call for the federal government to secure the border. As president, I will work with leaders like Sheriff Babeu to protect our Southern border, provide the required assistance from the federal government and put an end to the magnets that cause illegal immigration. The Pinal County Sheriff's Department is standing behind Mr. Babeu. "The entire sheriff's department supports the sheriff," said Elias Johnson, a spokesman for the department. He has a right to his private life. None of the allegations happened when he was supporting the citizens of Pinal County. He has a right to a private life just as every other citizen has a right to a private life. His public record speaks for itself.