Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) spoke out against what he said were “lies and libels” after his Democratic primary challenger for New York’s 15th Congressional District, Jose Vega, posted a video on X purporting to show a billboard accusing the congressman of profiting from the deaths of Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip.
The blurry video showed an alleged billboard across from Torres’s office on East Fordham Road in the Bronx, N.Y., with the words, “For every Palestinian child that’s murdered, your congressman, Ritchie Torres, gains a profit. Let the Palestinian children live,” alongside an image of Torres with blood streaming down his face and a woman in a headscarf carrying a child.
A source familiar with the location told JNS that no such billboard exists and that the video appeared to be fake or AI-generated.
“My political opponents are spreading lies and libels that are meant to incite political violence,” Torres told JNS.
Vega initially said the video had been sent to him by a “Torres-hater.”
He later posted, “I am the hater that sent the video,” while insisting that it was “not AI.” He subsequently used a screenshot from the video to solicit campaign donations, claiming he needed to raise $20,000 by a Federal Election Commission deadline. The deadline was not specified.
Torres, who often speaks at Jewish-sponsored events, has described himself as “a steadfast supporter and ally of Israel.” Immediately after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, he said: “I unequivocally stand with Israel as it rightly defends itself and condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of Hamas.”
He has also warned about rising antisemitism since Oct. 7.
