Far right anti-immigrant Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu is the latest Republican icon to have his secret life revealed, after he reportedly threatened to have his gay Mexican lover deported: Paul Babeu’s Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff’s Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu — who became the face of Arizona border security nationally after he started stridently opposing illegal immigration — threatened his Mexican ex-lover with deportation when the man refused to promise never to disclose their years-long relationship, the former boyfriend and his lawyer tell New Times.

The latest of the alleged threats were made through Babeu’s personal attorney, who’s also running the sheriff’s campaign for Congress in District 4, the ex-lover says.

He says lawyer Chris DeRose demanded he sign an agreement that he would never breathe a word about the affair. But Jose (New Times is withholding his last name because Babeu and his attorney have challenged his legal status) refused.

The 34-year-old from central Mexico charges that the sheriff’s lawyer warned against mentioning the affair with Babeu. DeRose said gossip about Babeu would focus attention on Jose, attention that could result in his deportation, Jose says.

Babeu was co-chair of Mitt Romney’s campaign in Arizona, and they have just announced that he is stepping down, which is no surprise.

The anti-gay Republican Party sure seems to have a lot of closeted gay men in it.

Live video of Sheriff Babeu’s press conference — he just admitted that he’s gay, but says all the other allegations are “false.”

[Event completed, video removed.]