Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has granted an “absolute pardon” to Scott Smith, a father who was arrested at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in June 2021. The arrest followed a series of events involving the alleged rape of Smith’s daughter by another student, which ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding parental rights and school policies.
Smith’s pardon came after he was charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct during the school board meeting, which he attended to voice concerns about his daughter’s situation. The incident took place amid discussions about a policy allowing transgender students to use restrooms of their choice.
The pardon, issued Sunday, highlights the circumstances leading to Smith’s arrest. It states that a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Smith’s business, aiming to damage his reputation during the meeting. An ensuing verbal confrontation resulted in Smith’s charges, which eventually led to his conviction in a general district court.
However, an appeals court later disqualified the prosecutor due to concerns about the integrity of the prosecution. The governor’s pardon emphasizes Smith’s factual innocence and false accusations of “domestic terrorism” and “hate crimes” that tarnished his reputation while advocating for his daughter, a victim of sexual assault.
Smith’s story garnered nationwide attention and galvanized parents who were concerned about school safety and ideological agendas. Governor Youngkin’s campaign promise to uphold parental rights played a significant role in his election to office.
Smith expressed gratitude for the pardon, emphasizing the toll the legal saga took on him, both financially and emotionally. He explained that he sought an “off-ramp” from the charges, given his skepticism about receiving a fair trial in today’s justice system.
While Smith’s case garnered attention, it also raised questions about the handling of similar incidents within the school system. Loudoun County Public Schools spokesman Wayde Byard faced perjury charges but was acquitted. Byard had falsely blamed Smith for police presence on the day of the rape, even as the perpetrator remained at large.
Smith’s daughter had intended to address the school board about her assault during the June 2021 meeting, but the situation escalated when a confrontation occurred between Smith and a community member named Jackie Schworm. This incident led to Smith’s arrest.
Smith lamented that he had become a symbol in the media’s portrayal of conservative parents as disruptors of school board meetings. He asserted that the legal process had already inflicted significant damage on him and his family.
In response to his ordeal, Smith plans to take legal action against the prosecutor for misconduct and possibly the National School Boards Association. Governor Youngkin’s pardon aligns with his commitment to parental rights, a theme he has consistently emphasized since taking office. He will further address these concerns during a “Parents Matter” conversation in Loudoun County, emphasizing the importance of parental involvement in education.
This style of leadership is a fresh, and much needed, change of direction in America.
The Bible says in Proverbs 29:2 that, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.” All it takes to turn this declining situation around is leadership that stands firmly on godly principles and morality to effect significant change. Now, parents across the state are rejoicing and taking back control over their children from school boards and superintendents who seek to push radical, ungodly ideologies onto the younger generations.
The words spoken in James 2:14-17 are just as true today as they were when they were written, stating: “What does it profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and lacking daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ and yet you give them nothing that the body needs, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
If the Christian community truly wants to see an America willingly turn back toward the Lord, it will take action on their part.
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James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
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