Tucson News NowPinal County sheriff responds to 'New Times' article

Pinal County sheriff responds to 'New Times' article

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By Sarah Cantey - email
Sheriff Paul Babeu Sheriff Paul Babeu
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu released a statement Friday night, regarding an article in the Phoenix New Times.

In an article published Thursday, the New Times says Babeu "threatened his Mexican ex-lover with deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship." (Full article: http://bit.ly/xIgL87)

Babeu has strongly opposed illegal immigration. The Republican sheriff is also running for congress. 

Sheriff Paul Babeu responded to the New Times article by saying:

"At 2:30 p.m. today, the Phoenix New Times contacted the Paul Babeu for Congress campaign via email asking for a response to a long series Of allegations for a story they had been working on for two months from an anonymous source.

"The allegations referred to an incident that occurred on September 6, 2011, when the campaign's website, Twitter account, and online financial transaction system were illegally hacked.

"A cease-and-desist letter was Sent to the suspected perpetrator who promptly returned access to the campaign.

"This individual was asked to sign an agreement refraining from similar activity in the future, but at no time were any threats made.

"At that time, the individual's attorney assured the campaign that he was not interested in causing further trouble, which was accepted as true.

"We strongly deny the sensationalist headline published by the Phoenix New Times."

The New Times is a Phoenix alternative weekly newspaper.

Sheriff Babeu will hold a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Tucson News Now will be there, and bring you Late Breaking details on KOLD News 13 Now at 5:30 p.m.

Copyright 2012 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.

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