A North Dakota lawmaker has been sacked from the local GOP committee after he was caught on camera hurling homophobic and racist slurs.
Republican state Rep. Nico Rios of Williston was removed from the Legislature’s interim Judiciary Committee effective immediately on Tuesday.
Rios made headlines after he was pulled over by police on December 15 for failing to stay in his lane, according to an officer’s report.
The officer wrote that Rios ‘was verbally abusive, homophobic, racially abusive and discriminatory’ toward him ‘for the entire duration of the incident following road side testing.’
The homophobic slurs can be heard in body camera footage. He was charged with driving drunk and refusing to provide a chemical test.
Body camera video captured North Dakota Republican lawmaker Nico Rios using profanity and homophobic slurs toward Williston police officer
Rios threatened to call the state’s attorney general during a DUI stop on December 5, 2023, in Williston, North Dakota
In the recording, Rios said he would call the North Dakota attorney general about the situation. He told the officers they would ‘regret picking on me because you don’t know who … I am.’
He also cursed while riding in the patrol car, and questioned the officer’s English accent, asking him, ‘How many of your … friends and family members have been … brutalized and terrorized by … migrants?’
‘Your country is being taken over by f***ing migrants and refugees,’ Rios told him from the back seat.
‘You’re arresting me for driving home and people are coming to your country and raping your women,’ he continued.
His remarks sparked a huge public backlash with residents calling for Rios to resign or be sacked.
On Tuesday, Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, sent a letter to Rios saying he was being removed from the interim Judiciary Committee on the grounds that it would be unfair for law enforcement officers to testify in front of him.
Lefor is also still calling for him to stand down as a state representative.
During the verbal assault, Rios targeted the officers, calling Officer Alexander Welch ‘pathetic and weak.’ He tells him he’s a ‘F****** coward’ and a ‘mother f******’ and a ‘c*******r traitor.’
Rios posted a statement apologizing for his actions on Twitter
Rios was elected last year to the North Dakota House of Representatives
Asked for comment, Rios said ‘Inebriated or not my actions and words to law enforcement that night were absolutely unacceptable’
‘You better feel bad about what you’re doing,’ Rios continued.
‘You come from f****** London f****** England to terrorize brown people, you b******’ Rios said after asking Welch say where he was from.
Then, after arriving at the jail, Rios told Officer Welch, ‘You feel bad for what you’re doing to me but you need to make a paycheck.’
‘You’re ruining my life so you can make a paycheck you little b****,’ Rios continued before again using a homophobic slur.
‘You sold your soul to globalism,’ Rios told Welch.
While being booked, Rios, who had been instructed to sit down, stood and attempted to apologize to Welch. ‘I don’t mean to be rude to you,’ he said after Welch shouted at him to take a seat.
Asked for comment, Rios replied in an email, ‘Inebriated or not my actions and words to law enforcement that night were absolutely unacceptable.’
The lawmaker said he was sorry and vowed ‘to make sure this never happens again.’
‘Moving forward after this night I feel like I have to emphasize my complete and total commitment to supporting Law Enforcement,’ he wrote.
Rio said he was leaving a Christmas party before the traffic stop, and has ‘only gotten support from my colleagues, although a few have yelled at me for sure I deserved it.’
Despite his online apology, few on Twitter believed it to be sincere.
‘Not one time did you mention the officers you verbally abused. You do have the right to remain silent,’ wrote MrPaperman.
‘You’re an absolute clown and deserve every bit of shame you’ve received. Hope it teaches you something, and if not, then I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before you make an ass of yourself again,’ stated Cody Paul.
‘Good God, man. How can you even say what you said to Officer Welch? He was very respectfully, & patiently doing his job. You worked for Ted Cruz, you know *many* people not born here, now citizens. In fact, you are relatively new to ND. Start being the best version of yourself,’ added David Woods.
‘I would imagine your BAC exceeded .08 and that your IQ is below that threshold,’ quipped Pat Murray.
Rios who hails from Chicago moved to Williston in 2014. He is a first-term elected official who won his seat in 2022, and is among a handful of young conservatives who have joined the North Dakota House of Representatives in recent years.
Before moving to the state, Rios had been active in Republican working for Ted Cruz in the Texas Senator’s Washington D.C. office in 2013-14.
Rios said he was leaving a Christmas party before the traffic stop
Williston Republican state Rep. Nico Rios is seen being arrested for driving under the influence
He also is a wireline operator, an oil field position involved in the hydraulic fracturing of wells.
Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor said in December that he hadn’t seen the video, ‘but I’ve heard enough about it.’ He would not say whether he is asking Rios to resign, but said he is ‘looking at the options that are in front of me,’ and wanted to speak with Rios before commenting further.
North Dakota Republican Party Chairwoman Sandi Sanford said in a text message, ‘We are deeply troubled by Rep. Rios´ dangerous decision to drive while intoxicated and his remarks to law enforcement officers. His behavior does not represent the values of the NDGOP.’
The state’s Democratic Party chair called Rios´ comments ‘reprehensible.’
Republicans control the North Dakota House, 82-12.