Glenn Youngkin pardons Loudoun dad arrested at school board meeting.

Virginia Governor Grants Absolute Pardon ​to Father Arrested⁤ at School Board Meeting

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin made⁢ a significant move‍ on Sunday ⁤by granting an “absolute pardon” to a father who was arrested at a school board meeting. The arrest occurred after the superintendent lied about the father’s daughter being raped by a boy wearing a skirt.

The pardon states that in​ June 2021, Scott Smith exercised his constitutional ⁣right to attend a public meeting of the Loudoun County School Board. During the meeting, a community ⁣member threatened to spread false and malicious ‌information about Mr. Smith’s business with‍ the intent to damage⁢ his reputation.

The pardon⁤ continues, explaining that after a verbal confrontation, Scott Thomas Smith was charged with Obstruction of Justice and Disorderly Conduct. Despite an appeals court later disqualifying the prosecutor due to concerns about the integrity of the prosecution, Smith was ‌quickly convicted.

“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 sexual assault… I have decided it is just and‍ appropriate to grant this ABSOLUTE PARDON that reflects Scott Thomas​ Smith’s factual innocence,” it ‌concludes.

Smith’s story resonated with parents ‍who were concerned about student safety and academic‍ rigor being compromised for ideological reasons. Youngkin’s commitment to being a voice for these parents played a significant role in his election as governor, which occurred just⁣ a ⁤month after The Daily Wire brought attention to Smith’s story.

Interestingly, Democrat prosecutor Buta Biberaj, who ​is known for her lenient stance on crime, personally ​argued for Smith’s imprisonment on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. Smith was denied a jury trial due to the nature ‌of the offense, and a ⁤judge swiftly convicted him.

Smith appealed the ruling, which would have entitled him to⁣ a ⁢jury trial in ⁢appeals court. However, the legal process dragged on for years, taking a toll on Smith both‌ financially and emotionally. ⁣He expressed gratitude towards Youngkin for allowing ⁣him to move forward.

“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 emphasized the concerning state of the justice system,‍ stating,‍ “That’s what should scare every American – that I had to take⁤ this because I could not ‍trust our‌ justice system.”

During ⁤Smith’s legal battle, the same system that prosecuted him ⁤acquitted Loudoun County⁣ Public Schools spokesman ⁢Wayde Byard of perjury charges. Byard had falsely blamed ‍Smith for police presence and claimed ‍that no students were ⁣in danger, even though the rapist was still at large.

Although the rapist was eventually‌ convicted in juvenile⁢ court, a mistake by Biberaj prevented him ⁤from being placed on the sex offenders registry.

Smith revealed ⁤that on the night of the June 2021 school board meeting, where transgender restroom policies were being discussed, his daughter had planned to ‍speak out about her recent rape​ by a boy wearing a skirt. He​ explained that Jackie Schworm, a ⁤radical leftist, ⁤had threatened⁤ his daughter and subsequently confronted him, intending to ruin​ his business ​through ⁤social media. A struggle ensued when a police officer intervened.

An‌ appeals court acknowledged the potential bias of the prosecutor but deemed Smith’s use of profanity towards Schworm as ​grounds for a retrial. Smith‍ believed that even if his appeal had succeeded, the damage had already been⁣ done by “radical prosecutors”⁣ who put him through a lengthy and arduous process.

“The damage has already been done,”‍ Smith said. “This process has been absolutely brutal because it took away some of my family treasure that [could have gone to] my daughter’s situation.”

The media widely circulated a⁤ photo of Smith being dragged away by police, using him as a symbol of angry conservative parents supposedly ‍disrupting school board meetings out of bigotry and ‌ignorance. The National School Boards Association even ⁤likened him to‌ a domestic terrorist in a letter⁣ that the⁣ Biden administration used to mobilize anti-terrorism forces against parents.

Amidst this controversy, only The Daily Wire took the time to investigate Smith’s grievances against ⁣the‍ school board. It was revealed that not only had his​ daughter been raped and the superintendent lied about‍ it, but the ⁤school system also allowed the rapist to remain in school, where he assaulted another girl.

“They villainized me and my family from the​ minute my daughter reported that she​ was sexually assaulted, pretty much until present time,” Smith stated.

Smith believes ​that Biberaj aimed to make an example out of him to ⁢discourage others⁤ from speaking out. Unfortunately, it ⁢seems to⁤ have worked, as fewer parents have attended school board meetings and voiced their concerns since his arrest.

Smith plans to take‌ legal action against the prosecutor for misconduct and potentially⁤ against the National School Boards Association ​as ⁤well.

Youngkin’s pardon aligns with ⁣his campaign promise‍ to prioritize parental rights in education. On Tuesday, he will host a “Parents‌ Matter” conversation⁢ in ‍Loudoun at Cornerstone Chapel, a church that was targeted by a group of liberal activists known‍ as the Loudoun Love Warriors.

The pastor of the ‌church remarked on the irony of those who claim to advocate​ for tolerance being intolerant towards those with differing ‌views and values.

One member of the Love Warriors was recently arrested on felony ‍charges. Biberaj has yet to respond to inquiries regarding her intentions​ to drop the charges, prosecute, or⁤ recuse herself.

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