On Sunday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin granted an “absolute pardon” to Scott Thomas Smith, the father arrested at a Loudoun County school board meeting after a superintendent lied about his daughter’s rape by a skirt-wearing boy.
The case sparked outrage from parents nationwide, who raised questions about the integrity of justice systems, who often don’t prioritize student safety and academic rigor over ideology.
“I’m thankful that the Youngkin administration gave me an off-ramp to these charges that never should have happened,” Smith told The Daily Wire. “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’s legal saga began in June 2021 when a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Smith’s business with the intent to damage his reputation.
Smith was then charged with Obstruction of Justice and Disorderly Conduct and was quickly convicted even though an appeals court later disqualified the prosecutor due to concerns about the integrity of the prosecution.
Youngkin’s pardon concluded by stating, “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 sexual assault,” but ruled that “it is just and appropriate to grant this absolute pardon that reflects Scott Thomas Smith’s factual innocence.”
Smith was denied a jury trial because it was a misdemeanor in General District Court, and a judge quickly convicted him. Smith appealed the ruling and would have been entitled to a jury in appeals court. But the legal saga has dragged on for years, taking a financial and emotional toll on Smith, who says he’s grateful Youngkin allowed him to move on.
Youngkin has pledged to be a voice for parents concerned that schools have sacrificed student safety and academic rigor for ideology. On Tuesday, he will hold a “Parents Matter” conversation in Loudoun at Cornerstone Chapel, a church placed on an enemies list by a group of liberal activists called the Loudoun Love Warriors.
The case highlights the need for a robust justice system that protects citizens from any form of injustice, and all individuals must be given a fair hearing. The pardon of Smith is a step in the right direction to ensure that parents can speak out in defense of their children without fear of retaliation or punishment.
It will be interesting to see if Youngkin’s steps toward justice will bring further relief to parents of students in Loudoun County and serve as an example for other states to follow.