San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres was removed from all official appointments on Tuesday as police investigate allegations of child sex crimes. The San Jose City Council, led by Mayor Matt Mahan, voted unanimously to strip Torres of his Council-assigned roles. Mahan emphasized that while they lack the authority to fully remove Torres from office, they could remove him from committees, boards, and commissions.
The decision comes as Torres has missed several meetings during the investigation. Mahan noted concerns about Torres seeking excused absences due to illness and indicated that further requests would require more explanation.
A list of reassigned roles was released, with various council members filling in for Torres. These include positions on the Public Safety, Community Development, and other key committees, as well as roles with regional agencies like the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Project.