Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has pardoned a Loudoun County father arrested during an incident at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in 2021, according to a statement released on Sunday.
A 14-year-old student sexually assaulted a female student at Stone Bridge High School in May 2021, but was allowed to transfer to Broad Run High School, where he abducted and sexually assaulted another female student in October of that year. The teen was later convicted in juvenile court.
Scott Smith, the father of the first victim, criticized school officials before Smith was arrested at a Loudoun County school board meeting. He was charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct.
One of the charges was dropped on appeal, and the other was set to go to trial in about two weeks.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. >Sign up here.
“Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter. Scott’s commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia,” Youngkin’s statement read. “In Virginia, parents matter and my resolve to empower parents in unwavering. A parent’s fundamental right to be involved in their child’s education, upbringing, and care should never be undermined by bureaucracy, school divisions or the state. I am pleased to grant Scott Smith this pardon and help him and his family put this injustice behind them once and for all.”
Following Smith's legal process, he was critical of both Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares. Smith said he hadn't heard from either of the politicians since they won their elections, both of whom used his name and story feverishly during their respective campaigns.
In an interview with "Fox News Sunday" this morning, Youngkin said he spoke to Smith on Friday — just days ahead of the governor's latest "Parents Matter" rally, scheduled for Tuesday in Leesburg.
The attorneys for the Loudoun County father addressed the pardon in a release that included Smith's statement, which reads in part:
"My family has been living a nightmare that no family in America should have to endure. But rather than sit quietly and take it, I decided to stand up against the government - and for that I was branded a "domestic terrorist" and charged with crimes that I did not commit. I want to thank Governor Youngkin for his declaration that I am innocent, and for his absolute and unconditional pardon."
Smith also spoke to reporters on Sunday.
"My wife, she's exhausted. She's the brains behind the whole operation. I'm the muscle; she's the brains. My daughter, you know, she's been constantly bullied and berated by her peers," he said. "But she's as strong as I am. She has her good weeks and has a couple bad days in between, but you know, she graduated from high school. She's looking forward to the future."
A grand jury issued a scathing report in December about the school system's handling of the sexual assaults, saying that the second assault could have been avoided.
The report indicated there wasn't any evidence the school district's administration or board engaged in an organized cover-up of the sexual assaults, as some had speculated.
The grand jury brought indictments against former Superintendent Scott Ziegler and spokesman Wayde Byard. Byard was acquitted of the charge against him, Ziegler's cases go to trial later this month.
CORRECTION (Sept. 12, 2023, 8:40 p.m.): An earlier version of this story said Scott Smith is the father of the second victim to be sexually assaulted at a Loudoun County high school in 2021. Smith is the father of the first victim.
