SJ Councilmember Omar Torres responds to being served warrant for child sex misconduct

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres is responding to being the target of a child sexual misconduct probe, which he says is "unfounded."

The Mercury News reports that Torres was detained earlier Thursday and served with a search warrant in connection to a criminal investigation involving sexually explicit material and an alleged relationship with a minor.

San Jose police would only confirm that an investigation is underway involving "a member" of the council, but did not says whether it's Torres, or reveal any details about the case.

They called the investigation "active" and "ongoing."

Torres has since released a statement to ABC7, saying he was "wrongfully detained" and that the sexual misconduct claim against him is "baseless."

"I want to be absolutely clear-these accusations are entirely false," Councilmember Torres said in the statement. "I fully cooperated with the San José Police Department, including providing my passwords without hesitation, as I have nothing to hide. It is disheartening that my family, partner, team, and I have to confront such defamatory and baseless claims."

ABC7 asked San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan about the investigation. He declined to comment on the case.

Torres was elected in 2022 as the first openly gay Latino member of the City Council.