Nico Rios Explained

Nico Rios
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, US
State House:North Dakota
District:23rd
Termstart:December 1, 2022
Alongside:Dennis Nehring
Party:Republican
Residence:Williston, North Dakota

Nico Rios is an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party. He has served as a representative for the 23rd district in the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2022, alongside Scott Dyk.[1] [2]

Career

Prior to moving to North Dakota, Rios worked in Senator Ted Cruz's Washington, D.C., office. As of 2022, he was working as a wireline operator in Williston. "The type of medical and economic tyranny we saw across the country due to covid made me want to do something", he said during his 2022 run for office.[3]

Arrest

On December 15, 2023, Rios was pulled over at around 11:30 p.m. after he failed to stay in his lane.[4] In a police report, he was noted as being "verbally abusive, homophobic, racially abusive and discriminatory" toward an officer.[5] [6] During the arrest, Rios told the officers that they would "regret picking on me because you don't know who the fuck I am."[7]

Rios was charged with driving under the influence and refusing to provide a chemical test. He later pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was sentenced to nearly one year of unsupervised probation and a $1,000 fine.[8]

In an apology statement, he said that "I decided to act like a dummie. 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."

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Representative Nico Rios . North Dakota Legislative Branch . December 26, 2023.
  2. News: Anthony . Michael . Three Republicans elected to new legislative district west of Williston . December 26, 2023 . . November 9, 2022.
  3. Web site: rjean@willistonherald.com . Renée Jean . 2022-04-06 . District 23 begins taking shape for first election season . 2024-02-11 . Williston Herald . en.
  4. News: Smart . Sara . State lawmaker apologizes after homophobic, xenophobic remarks toward police officer during DUI stop . December 26, 2023 . . December 24, 2023.
  5. News: Rissman . Kelly . GOP lawmaker caught hurling racist, homophobic abuse during DUI arrest . December 26, 2023 . . December 24, 2023.
  6. News: Schladebeck . Jessica . North Dakota lawmaker unleashes ‘homophobic, racially abusive’ tirade during drunk driving arrest: bodycam video . December 26, 2023 . . December 23, 2023.
  7. Web site: 2023-12-26 . North Dakota Republican leaders call on state Rep. Nico Rios to resign after slurs to police during DUI stop - CBS Minnesota . 2024-02-02 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2024-01-18 . North Dakota lawmaker who insulted police in DUI stop gets unsupervised probation and $1,000 fine . 2024-02-02 . AP News . en.