Jose Orozco, the former boyfriend of
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, has filed a $1 million lawsuit
against Babeu, the Arizona
Republic reported.
Attorneys for Orozco filed a notice of
claim on Monday with the sheriff and the county's Board of
Supervisors.
Orozco's status as a Mexican national
who is believed to be a legal immigrant on a tourist visa poses
problems for Babeu, a vocal opponent of illegal immigration.
The 43-year-old Babeu acknowledged last
month that he's gay in the course of denying charges made by Orozco
that Babeu threatened to have him deported if he discussed their
relationship.
The allegations, and now the lawsuit,
threaten to derail Babeu's campaign for Arizona's 4th
Congressional District, considered to be the state's most socially
conservative.
Days after the Phoenix New Times
broke the story, Babeu asked Arizona Attorney Tom Horne to open an
independent investigation to clear his name.
Orozco has said he volunteered to work
on Babeu's campaign websites and campaign filings show he gave $40 to
Babeu's 2008 run for sheriff. Immigrants are prohibited from such
activities.