North Dakota Republican representative Nico Rios is facing calls for resignation from Republican leaders after making homophobic and discriminatory remarks toward police officers during a DUI arrest on December 15.
The incident began when Rios was pulled over by two Williston Police Department officer for failing to stay in his lane.
According to the police report, Rios exhibited signs of impairment during sobriety tests, including slurred speech and difficulty constructing sentences.
The situation escalated when Rios became verbally abusive and made homophobic, racially abusive and discriminatory comments toward one of the arresting officers.
Body camera footage released from the incident revealed Rios using profanity and homophobic slurs.
At one point, he questioned an officer’s English accent and later claimed that England is being “taken over” by migrants.
Rios also threatened to call the state Attorney General Drew Wrigley while sitting in the back of the police cruiser.
“Inebriated or not, my actions and words to law enforcement that night were absolutely unacceptable,” Rios said in a statement to CNN. “Just two cops doing their jobs keeping the community safe when they ran into me on a night I decided to act like a dummy. They did nothing to deserve any sort of disrespect. I owe it to myself, my district, and everyone, and I vow to make sure this never happens again.”
Despite Rios’ remorseful comments, Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, have called for his resignation.
Lefor cited Rios’ “verbally abusive, homophobic, racially abusive, and discriminatory” behavior, as well as attempts to use his position as a lawmaker to intimidate police and avoid arrest.
“There is no room in the Legislature, or our party, for this behavior. I understand people make mistakes, but his comments and defiance to law enforcement are beyond the pale,” Lefor stated. “Any lawmaker attempting to use his or her elected position to threaten anyone or skirt the law is completely unacceptable.”
North Dakota Republican Party Chairwoman Sandi Sanford echoed Lefor’s sentiments, saying that Rios’ actions violated the party’s core values and endangered the community he was elected to serve.
Rios, who was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2022 and works in an oil field position, now faces misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and refusing to provide a chemical test. His next court date is set for January 4, with a pretrial conference scheduled for February 5.
As the controversy unfolds, Rios’ political future remains uncertain.
