North Dakota Republican leaders call for Rios to resign

House Majority Leader Mike Lefor and the North Dakota Republican Party are calling for the resignation of Rep. Nico Rios, who drew widespread backlash last week after a news outlet published police bodycam footage of the lawmaker insulting a police officer and trying to use his status as an elected official to evade a DUI arrest.

“After discussions with House leadership and the state Republican Party, I have asked for his resignation. There is no room in the legislature, or our party, for this behavior,” Lefor said in a Tuesday announcement. “I understand people make mistakes, but his comments and defiance to law enforcement are beyond the pale. In addition, any lawmaker attempting to use his or her elected position to threaten anyone or skirt the law is completely unacceptable.”

In the announcement, North Dakota GOP Chairwoman Sandra Sanford and First Vice Chair John Trandem voiced support for Lefor’s position.

Rios, a Williston Republican, was arrested Dec. 15 on charges related to drunk driving. 

In the bodycam footage, first published Thursday by Forum Communications columnist Rob Port, the freshman lawmaker is shown berating a Williston police officer and using racist and homophobic language. He also tried to use his position to intimidate law enforcement, the video shows.

“You guys are going to regret picking on me because you don’t know who the f– I am,” Rios told law enforcement.

Rios is expected to appear in Williston Municipal Court on Jan. 4, his arrest report states. The report indicates Rios is charged with driving under the influence, refusal to provide a chemical test and open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. 

Rios did not immediately comment on Tuesday. In a Friday statement to the North Dakota Monitor, Rios apologized to law enforcement for his behavior. He said at the time he didn’t plan on resigning but would seek help for his “personal issues.”

The lawmaker, who campaigned on tough-on-crime rhetoric, ran unopposed in the 2022 general election.

He said he grew up in the Chicago area and moved to North Dakota about a decade ago to work in the oil industry.