A text campaign attacking two labor-backed candidates for their prior association with embattled San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is popping up on phones across Santa Clara County — a political play some are deeming dirty with the election just a week away. The advertisements show pictures of San Jose City Council District 2 candidate Pamela...
San Jose residents start campaign to recall Councilman Omar Torres
Downtown San Jose residents are launching a recall campaign against Councilmember Omar Torres, claiming they no longer feel represented by him as he continues to evade the public eye. Torres, who represents the downtown neighborhoods of District 3, has maintained his innocence despite dodging his council responsibilities and missing multiple meetings after police filings showed...
Editorial: Omar Torres needs to resign — now
It’s been two weeks since San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres’ shocking text messages were exposed in legal documents. The disturbing messages show the 43-year-old bragging about performing oral sex on a 17-year-old male on a college campus, describing the genitalia of an autistic 11-year-old boy and asking a Chicago man if he’s got “homies under...
San Jose councilmember says he will try to remove Omar Torres
San Jose Councilmember Bien Doan says he intends to begin proceedings to remove embattled Councilmember Omar Torres under the city charter amid an ongoing investigation into Torres over child sex abuse allegations. Doan said the Torres scandal is shedding light on needed changes to the city charter — including the creation of a mandatory administrative...
San Jose City Hall workers want Councilman Omar Torres gone
Some San Jose City Hall employees are criticizing politicians for permitting Councilmember Omar Torres to stay in office despite calling for his resignation. This comes as the embattled councilman is asking for a 30-day leave of absence amid a child sex misconduct investigation. City Hall employees who spoke to San José Spotlight on condition of...
UPDATE: San Jose leaders approve embattled colleague’s excused absence
The San Jose City Council is formally excusing embattled Councilmember Omar Torres’ absence from an earlier meeting as he battles child sex abuse allegations — allowing Torres to dodge the public eye while holding onto his seat. Councilmember Bien Doan was the lone objection to the council’s Tuesday 8-1-2 vote, with Torres and Councilmember Dev...
How embattled San Jose councilman could lose his job
San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres has been a public no-show despite refusing to step down over a child sex crime investigation. Now critics are calling on the City Council to remove him. Mayor Matt Mahan has argued with at least one person online over whether the council has that kind of power. He and other...
San Jose officials call on Omar Torres to resign amid child sex allegations
San Jose councilmembers are calling for the resignation of Omar Torres almost a week after a police affidavit revealed he’s under investigation for alleged sex crimes involving minors. “We are in the midst of an active and ongoing investigation, and as our police department uncovers the truth, that truth will be shared with the community....
Police: San Jose official investigated for alleged ‘oral copulation of a minor’
New court records released Thursday show San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres is being investigated for “oral copulation of a minor” — a stunning development in a criminal investigation that’s rocked Silicon Valley. In the filings, police say they interviewed an individual named Terry Beeks, who is described as a 21-year-old Chicago resident allegedly extorting Torres....
San Jose City Hall abuses its power by asking for confidential sources
The criminal investigation related to Councilmember Omar Torres has taken an ugly political turn — with people lining up to either defend or denounce the downtown politician. San José Spotlight knew that would happen when we broke the news Torres was being accused of child sex abuse. What we didn’t expect is San Jose City...