He was proquaestor in Asia under Lucius Cornelius Sulla in 84 BC, for whom he issued gold and silver coinage.
However, Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta accused the consul designates for the following year of bribery in connection with the elections; they were condemned under the Lex Acilia Calpurnia, and Cotta and Torquatus elected in their places.
[4] This, allegedly, led to the so-called First Catilinian Conspiracy where Catiline, together with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, Autronius, and Sulla, conspired to murder the new consuls on 1 January 65 BC, when they were due to enter office.
Autronius and Sulla were to install themselves as consuls, while Piso was to take possession of the provinces of Hispania.
[6] However, during Catiline's trial for corruption when he was governor of Africa in 65 BC, he was supported by Torquatus, and an investigation undertaken by the consul into the circumstances of the aborted plot was inconclusive.