It’s the kind of story that would once have stopped the presses. Now, it barely makes a ripple—unless, of course, you’ve been paying attention.
In a disturbing turn of events unfolding in Northern Virginia, a registered sex offender named Richard Cox—operating under the name “Riki Cox”—was permitted to use female locker rooms at Arlington high schools because he claimed to be a transgender woman.
The pools in question are open to the public outside of school hours, but make no mistake: these are the same facilities little girls use during the day. And what enabled this? A policy that allows individuals to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on “gender identity,” regardless of biological sex.
New: A Virginia School Board member told Richard “Riki” Cox, who says he’s a woman, “I hope that you did not experience transphobic statements from the staff. You should be able to use the showers and changing rooms that you are most comfortable using.” https://t.co/nLCBQr4aHL
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) October 10, 2025
But here’s where it gets even more troubling. Newly released emails, obtained through a FOIA request, show that Cox not only accessed these locker rooms, but followed up with Arlington School Board member Mary Kadera Clark after being asked how long he would be in the shower—an entirely reasonable question given the circumstances. Instead of addressing the obvious and immediate concerns of safety and propriety, Clark expressed sympathy for Cox, stating, “I hope that you did not experience transphobic statements from the staff.”
This isn’t just tone-deaf. It’s reckless.
Kathleen Clark is the Fairfax school board member who corresponded with sex predator Richard Cox and who encouraged him to enter women’s bathrooms. She’s a radical leftist who sees the school board as a political stepping stone
https://t.co/JDunerTp6G
— Julie Gunlock (@JGunlock) October 10, 2025
And it throws into sharp relief the kind of political environment that allows these scenarios to fester. When Representative Abigail Spanberger was directly asked during a debate whether men should be allowed in girls’ locker rooms, she visibly struggled to offer a clear answer. Watching her stammer and dodge was as revealing as it was infuriating. Because clarity is exactly what’s required when the stakes are this high—and her refusal to take a stand only fuels the growing unease among parents and voters alike.
The most disturbing element here isn’t only that a sex offender was granted access to women’s private spaces, but that when confronted, those in charge appeared more concerned about offending him than about protecting girls and women. That’s not inclusion. That’s negligence.
