The political fallout over the stunning baby sexual misconduct investigation into embattled San Jose District 3 Councilmember Omar Torres continues to develop as certainly one of his fellow members on the dais has change into the primary official to publicly challenge a press release of condemnation, as questions swirl as as to if Torres can nonetheless successfully symbolize his constituents.
Though Torres attributed his specific messages referencing minors to “outrageous fantasy and function play,” District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan mentioned he was “deeply troubled and appalled” by the graphic particulars revealed in a search warrant affidavit that included Torres texting a younger man the outline of an 11-year-old autistic boy’s genitalia, and asking him, “U received any homies below 18” whereas the 2 appeared to plan a sexual dalliance.
“There isn’t any room for such conduct in our authorities or group,” Doan mentioned, stopping in need of calling for Torres’ resignation. “As a father, I condemn within the strongest attainable phrases the reprehensible textual content trade involving kids. We should stand agency in our dedication to guard the weak and uphold the very best requirements of integrity in our public officers.”
The felony investigation started after Torres contacted San Jose police in late August to report {that a} 21-year-old Chicago man he was in an internet sexual relationship with over the previous two years extorted him, threatening to launch specific photographs and movies until Torres met his monetary calls for. Torres instructed police that he estimated making greater than $22,000 in funds to the person, whom he met with whereas attending the Democratic Nationwide Conference to “talk about their ongoing relationship and discover closure.”
After the latest $2,500 fee demand, Torres went to the police, however in the midst of the investigation, detectives started to shift their give attention to Torres from sufferer to potential perpetrator after uncovering sexually specific messages with the person that additionally included Torres saying he carried out oral intercourse on a 17-year-old boy at an unspecified time.
The affidavit sheds some mild on potential felony publicity, together with oral copulation of a minor – a felony – and displaying irregular curiosity in a baby, prompting calls from the San Jose Police Officers’ Affiliation for Torres to resign.
“Omar Torres should resign instantly and face the results for his alleged wretched conduct that features exploiting kids for intercourse, paying hush cash to cowl it up, and detailing his sexual exploits with an autistic baby,” President Steve Slack mentioned. “He should resign, and this investigation should additionally give attention to Torres’ colleagues and on metropolis administration and search the solutions to those questions; ‘Who knew, and when did they realize it.’”
In a press release supplied to The Mercury Information final week, Torres’ legal professional, Nelson McElmurry, mentioned the sexually charged textual content messages “don’t mirror any real-world actions or intentions and have been totally fictitious.”
Even within the absence of felony prices so far, extra elected officers have begun to place house between themselves and Torres as particulars emerge.
Like Doan, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan mentioned he was “shocked and sickened” by the affidavit’s contents.
“The allegations are severe, and if they’re true, he must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the legislation,” Mahan mentioned final week. “It’s nonetheless an energetic investigation, and I belief the felony justice system to seek out the entire fact.”
A overview of the Web Archive additionally exhibits that the District 2, 6, 8 and 10 Metropolis Council race candidates on the November poll have now eliminated Torres’ endorsement from their marketing campaign webpages.
District 10 Councilmember Arjun Batra, who was unavailable for remark, was the primary to take action the day after studies circulated about police detaining Torres and executing a search warrant for the passwords to his gadgets.
District 2 Councilmember Domingo Candelas, a political ally of Torres, adopted swimsuit.
“The allegations going through Councilmember Torres are extraordinarily disturbing and regarding,” Candelas instructed The Mercury Information Tuesday.
Pamela Campos and Olivia Navarro, candidates for the District 2 and District 6 Metropolis Council seats, respectively, eliminated Torres’ endorsement from their marketing campaign materials final week after particulars of the search warrant got here to mild.
Whereas Torres has indicated he’ll defend himself in opposition to the allegations and try to revive his status, he has been out of the general public eye for the previous week and a half, lacking a number of official appearances and elevating questions on whether or not he can successfully govern and symbolize District 3 even when felony prices fail to materialize.
Torres’ legal professional didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Together with final week’s Metropolis Council assembly, Torres missed a VTA board assembly, a metropolis Neighborhood Companies and Training Committee assembly and a press convention the place Secretary of the Inside Deb Haaland introduced $4.5 million in funding for the Spartan Keyes Park in Torres’ district. He additionally failed to point out up Friday to the San Jose Downtown Affiliation’s annual assembly the place he was scheduled to talk.
“The allegations within the affidavit are stunning and horrifying,” San Jose Downtown Affiliation CEO Alex Stettinski mentioned in response to questions over whether or not Torres might successfully symbolize downtown. “The investigation is ongoing and we belief authorities to do a radical job to get to the reality right here. Within the meantime, SJDA will proceed working with the Mayor, Council and metropolis employees to convey vibrancy and actions to downtown. Downtown San Jose will proceed to thrive and we are going to preserve working with our native leaders to make that occur.”
Torres’ absences have pressured others to step in for him at metropolis occasions involving kids and households. For instance, throughout final week’s Metropolis Council assembly, District 5 Metropolis Councilmember Peter Ortiz stepped in throughout Torres’ absence to current a commendation to a company selling STEM training.
Torres’ absences won’t change into a direct drawback simply but as a result of the town’s constitution solely prohibits absences of greater than 60 days or lacking 5 consecutive common Metropolis Council conferences with out written consent from the dais earlier than making a emptiness.
However sooner or later, Torres should present up in-person to forged a vote or meet together with his constituents if he really intends to maintain his submit.
“As this course of strikes ahead, it is going to be increasingly more troublesome for him to supply providers for his constituents,” mentioned Bob Staedler, principal at consulting agency Silicon Valley Synergy. “If it’s a precise U-turn and all the pieces he mentioned was 100% appropriate, then there’s an opportunity. However proper now, the window is closing for him and he’s going to need to make some very robust decisions. District 3 constituents, sooner or later, are going to want to satisfy with their councilmember and if that’s impaired to because of the circumstances, I’m undecided what his path ahead is.”