On Sunday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) granted an “absolute pardon” to the father who was arrested at a school board meeting after the superintendent lied about his daughter’s intimate assault by a skirt-wearing boy.
Youngkin pardons Loudoun Cty dad arrested for standing up to the school board after daughter's assault https://t.co/EA9JldHG6C
— A.C. Spollen (@ACSpollen) September 10, 2023
The pardon reads Scott Smith “exercised his constitutional right to attend a public meeting of the Loudoun County School Board to observe the proceedings, during which time a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Mr. Smith’s business with the intent to damage his reputation.”
The statement further explains, “After an ensuing verbal confrontation, Scott Thomas Smith was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Disorderly Conduct.” Smith was swiftly convicted, but an appeals court later disqualified the prosecutor due to concerns about the “integrity of the prosecution.”
The pardon concludes, “WHEREAS Scott Thomas Smith has been publicly and falsely accused of ‘domestic terrorism’ and ‘hate crimes’ for attempting to advocate for his daughter, a victim of assault. I have decided it is just and appropriate to grant this ABSOLUTE PARDON that reflects Scott Thomas Smith’s factual innocence.”
Smith’s narrative rallied parents who were worried that schools had prioritized ideology over student safety and academic excellence. Youngkin’s commitment to representing these parents played a crucial role in propelling him to the office just a month after The Daily Wire unveiled Smith’s story.
Democratic prosecutor Buta Biberaj deviated from her usual leniency towards crime and personally advocated for Smith’s imprisonment on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. As it was a misdemeanor case in General District Court, Smith was not granted a jury, and a judge swiftly handed down a conviction.
He pursued an appeal of the verdict, and in the appeals court, he would have been entitled to a jury. Nevertheless, the legal process dragged on for years, exacting a significant financial and emotional toll on Smith. He expressed his gratitude for Youngkin’s decision, which has allowed him to finally put the ordeal behind him.
Smith made a statement, saying, “I’m thankful that the Youngkin administration gave me an off-ramp to these charges that never should have happened. It’s kind of bittersweet because I really looked forward to winning this in court. But unfortunately, our justice system is so screwed up right now that I didn’t feel that I could potentially get a fair shot in court.”
Smith concluded, “That’s what should scare every American – is that I had to take this because I could not trust our justice system.”
