U.S. Rep. Rich Torres, a new member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is a gay African American who grew up in public housing. Richie Torres made a backroom deal with the NYPD, Mayor de Blasio and Melissa Mark-Viverito - Torres had the NYPD rewrite parts of the Police Accountability Right-to-Know Act . He repealed the bill, making it harmful to black and Latino communities. Rich Torres cares more about Israel than his own borough, let alone his own congressional district, which is the poorest in America.
But Torres's arrogance has only grown since cashing AIPAC checks and ratting out the little guy became part of his daily routine. He's not Jewish, but why is he so outspoken about Israel? Some noted that he received significant funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Torres' campaign is one of the largest donors to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, raising nearly $600,000, according to a review of his campaign filings. In 2016, he voted in support of a council resolution opposing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. Supporters of BDS argue the resolution suppresses free speech. Torres doesn't think so.