See also: Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened HimThe allegations first reported by New Times in February were explosive: Paul Babeu's ex-boyfriend claimed that -- after he refused to sign an agreement to keep quiet about his relationship with the sheriff -- Babeu and his attorney threatened him with deportation.
See also: Demands Grow for Full Investigation into Allegations Against Babeu
See also: Paul Babeu and Ex-Boyfriend Jose Orozco Won't Be Charged With Crimes
But was there a threat? Did Chris DeRose, Babeu's attorney, raise questions about the ex-boyfriend's immigration status to intimidate him into signing a non-disclosure contract?
That question has been at the crux of a story that lit a firestorm for the once-up-and-coming Republican and forced him to quit his Congressional campaign.
And, today, a seven-month investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's Office concluded that the answer was: "There is no indication that [Babeu] misused any authority or misused public money to harass or intimidate Jose Orozco" and that Ozoco's "allegations are not supported by the facts."
But it appears that DeRose told investigators a different story than he told the media.