SJ official questions embattled colleague’s bid to hold power amid lewd texting scandal

SAN JOSE COUNCILMEMBER Bien Doan wants proof that his colleague Omar Torres was sick earlier this month, causing him to miss a City Council meeting amid an ongoing police investigation into child sexual misconduct.

Late Monday, Doan urged councilmembers to deny Torres’ request to have his Oct. 8 council meeting absence formally excused on Tuesday. Excusing Torres — who’s under criminal investigation for soliciting sex from a minor — would allow him to keep dodging meetings without vacating his seat under the city charter. Torres claims “illness” as the reason for missing the meeting, according to his excuse request.