According to the criminal complaint, Rios initially sent a direct message to another user to discuss politics. Officials said the conversation later turned sexual, and Rios allegedly stated he was sexually attracted to children.
Prosecutors said Rios claimed he had previous sexual encounters with underage boys and fantasized about drugging boys from local high schools.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Rios later sent five videos allegedly depicting the sexual assault of a 3-year-old child and claimed he persuaded the child’s father to participate. The recipient reported the videos to the FBI.
Federal authorities said investigators traced the X account to an email address and phone number linked to Rios.
An undercover FBI agent later posed as the original recipient and continued communicating with Rios, according to court documents.
BREAKING: A D.C. man who claims to be running to replace Eleanor Holmes Norton as the DC Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives has been indicted on a federal charge of distributing child pornography.
Angel Anthony Rios was arraigned this morning and pleaded not guilty.… pic.twitter.com/BmD2Sm1h7a
— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorTV) February 19, 2026
WATCH: @7News has discovered that a DC man, whose Federal Election Commission forms say that he is running as a candidate to replace DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, has been arrested.
Angel Anthony Rios has been indicted on a federal charge of distributing child porn.
He was… pic.twitter.com/Q4fibdT2x1
— Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorTV) February 20, 2026
During that exchange, prosecutors said Rios admitted he believed “kids are here to be used” and said he had additional explicit videos involving children.
A LinkedIn profile connected to Rios indicated he was running for the District’s congressional seat.
However, he does not appear on the District Board of Elections candidate list for the June 16 primary.
“Those who exploit children will find no refuge,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement. “My office will pursue swift and decisive prosecution of anyone involved in the creation, possession, or distribution of child sexual abuse material.”
The case remains pending. The Department of Justice issued a press release about the arrest:
A complaint was unsealed today charging Angel Anthony Rios, 29, of the District of Columbia, with distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Those who exploit children will find no refuge,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will pursue swift and decisive prosecution of anyone involved in the creation, possession, or distribution of child sexual abuse material.”
According to court documents, starting on Dec. 18, 2025, Rios exchanged messages with another user on X regarding a variety of topics including politics. Rios ultimately stated that he has a sexual interest in children. He further stated that he communicated with the father of a three-year-old boy who sent Rios videos depicting his sexual abuse of his son. Rios distributed five videos depicting the abuse of the three-year-old son. During the course of his communications, Rios stated, “Kids are here to be used.”
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case is being investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Janani Iyengar.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.
