What Joey Torres has said about his contempt case
PATERSON — Former Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres might not have made any comments about the new indictment leveled against him by the New Jersey Attorney General on Wednesday. But he was always quick with something to say as his aborted candidacy played out in 2021 and 2022.
'Genie out of the bottle'
It all started with a birthday party that Torres threw for himself on Oct. 28, 2021 at the Brownstone banquet hall. He came dressed as a genie.
"I've been let out of that bottle," Torres told the more than 200 family members, friends and political supporters who showed up for the $75-per-ticket event.
Sparring with Florio
On Nov. 19, 2021, Torres said he thought developer Charles Florio’s request that the attorney general conduct a new investigation was designed to help Sayegh’s re-election chances the following spring. "We all know where this is coming from," he said, "this is Florio doing Andre's bidding. It's very, very clear."
Petitions presented
On March 4, 2022, Torres walked into City Hall carrying hundreds of petitions signed by people who wanted him to run for mayor. But he was turned away when Sayegh’s law department cited the plea agreement prohibition against him holding office.
“I think it's unfair," Torres said as his stood in the clerk's office with his petitions sitting on the counter. "You're disenfranchising more than 1,000 voters who signed these petitions."
'A good fight'
On March 11, 2022, when criminal charges were filed against him by attorney general's office because of his mayoral run, Torres said, “This is a good fight, and I’m up for it. I already paid my dues. Somebody has to fight for the constitutional rights of former felons.”
'A victimless crime'
On March 21, 2022, Torres continued to insist he should be allowed to run for mayor even after a judge ruled against him.
"It was a victimless crime," he said, standing outside the courtroom, undaunted.
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Joey Torres indicted on contempt charges: What he's said
