Candidate for Congress Faces Serious Charges

A man who is running to replace retiring Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in Washington, D.C., has been indicted on child pornography charges.

On February 5, a federal grand jury charged Angel Rios with distributing child pornography through X, as indicated by court documents. The Justice Department alleges that Rios initiated conversations with a male witness on the platform in December, which eventually shifted from political discourse to sexual discussions. Notably, their conversations included alarming suggestions about committing sexual acts involving children and aspirations to become a prominent couple within the LGBT+ community.

Rios had previously announced his candidacy for the seat vacated by Norton, who is retiring at the age of 88, as reported by various news outlets.

The allegations against Rios came to light during an undercover investigation that began when federal agents learned about unsettling messages he allegedly sent to an anonymous individual.

Rios purportedly shared with an undercover officer on Snapchat his views on child sex abuse, reportedly stating, “I liked what I saw. I’m sure you’ll want to see more.” He is quoted as saying, “The children are here to be exploited,” according to the DOJ.

Although Rios is not officially listed among the candidates for Washington’s delegate position, he describes himself as a “shadow candidate” on his LinkedIn profile. His resume includes claims about having worked with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and holding various leadership roles, though these claims have not been verified. Additionally, he has filed to run as a Democrat in both California and Mississippi for upcoming elections.

The Democratic Party is aiming to regain a House majority in the 2026 elections, but current polling indicates uncertainty regarding that goal.