San José Council Member Is Reportedly Target of Child Sexual Misconduct Investigation

Updated 3:15 p.m. Friday

San José Councilmember Omar Torres is denying all allegations against him after police executed a search warrant on his electronics.

San José police will only confirm they’re investigating a City Council member, but in a statement on official city letterhead, Torres said detectives detained and questioned him “regarding baseless allegations” on Thursday.

While Torres didn’t specify the allegations, police sources tell the Mercury News, San José Spotlight and NBC Bay Area that they include alleged sexually explicit images of a minor in connection with travel to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.

Torres rejected the foundation of the investigation, saying it stemmed from “misinformation provided to law enforcement” in “a clear act of retaliation” by someone whom he had reported to police for extortion and stalking.

“Let me be absolutely clear — these accusations are entirely false,” Torres said in the statement. “I cooperated fully with SJPD and turned over my passwords without issue as I have nothing to hide.”

His attorney, Nelson McElmurry, told KQED that Torres was detained while police executed a search warrant on his electronics and has not been formally arrested. Torres expects a response from police on the investigation as soon as next week.

“Understanding what they took and what they’re looking for, that does seem to be an appropriate timeline,” McElmurry said.

Torres was elected to the council in 2022. KQED reached out to his fellow council members, but those who responded declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

KQED’s Brian Krans contributed to this report.