RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) — Governor Glenn Youngkin has granted an absolute pardon to a Loudoun County father whose daughter was sexually assaulted at a Loudoun County school.
Scott Smith was arrested and convicted for disorderly conduct at a 2021 Loudoun County School Board meeting after his daughter was sexually assaulted at Stone Bridge High School.
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. 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.
Governor Glenn Youngkin
On his first day in office, Youngkin initiated an investigation into the sexual assaults in Loudoun County schools. The investigation ultimately led to the firing of Superintendent Scott Ziegler.
Smith’s attorney’s released as statement in response to the pardon, and said through the pardon, Youngkin declared what they already knew — Smith was innocent.
“Because Scott dared to stand up for his daughter, and courageously stood up for all parents of children in the public school system, he was attacked by those who pushed radical school policies over the protection of students, he was vilified by the media, and he was outrageously branded a ‘domestic terrorist’ by those who believed that parents should not have a say in the education of their children,” the statement reads.
Smith released a statement following the pardon as well.
“My family has been living a nightmare that no family in America should have to endure,
Smith said in the statement. “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.”
To read Gov. Youngkin’s pardon of Smith click here.
