Youngkin Pardons Virginia Father, Upholds Parental Rights

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) took a momentous step on Friday, issuing an absolute pardon to Scott Smith, a father who had been wrongfully convicted for protesting against the Loudoun County School Board. Smith had been campaigning for justice for his daughter, who was physically assaulted at Stone Bridge High School.

“Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter,” Youngkin declared while announcing the pardon. “Scott’s commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia.”

The pardon arrives as a landmark moment in a turbulent year for Smith and his family. His daughter was assaulted by another student in a school bathroom in May 2021. When Smith voiced his frustrations at a school board meeting in June 2021, he was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. Though his conviction of resisting arrest was later dismissed, he was set to appeal his disorderly conduct conviction later this month. Now, thanks to Youngkin, that won’t be necessary.

Youngkin described his actions as “righting a wrong.” Speaking on Fox News Sunday, he said, “This was a dad standing up for his daughter.” The governor also criticized school officials, claiming that the superintendent had “covered it up.”

Smith, a resident of Leesburg, Virginia, expressed gratitude. “I really appreciate what he has done because when he campaigned, he made it very clear that if he was elected he would do what he could to get to the bottom of what happened to not just my family but everything that was going on in Loudoun County,” he said.

Smith’s case has national implications. It draws attention to the broader issue of parental rights. This topic has stirred the American public as schools adopt policies without adequately consulting parents. This is not merely a localized problem in Virginia; it’s an issue that resonates with families across the country who feel that the educational system has increasingly marginalized them.

Youngkin’s pardon also reflects his continuing focus on parental involvement, a core tenet of his campaign. On his first day in office, he issued an executive order to initiate an investigation into violent assaults in Loudoun County schools. Following an incriminating investigation, Superintendent Ziegler was fired. “In Virginia, parents matter and my resolve to empower parents is unwavering,” Youngkin stated.

Smith’s case epitomizes the fight for parental empowerment. A bittersweet victory for Smith and his family, the pardon is a stern message to school boards and educational bureaucracies: Parents should never be sidelined in matters as vital as their children’s safety.

The Smith family is expected to file several lawsuits against Loudoun County officials soon. These legal actions may pave the way for more transparent and accountable governance, reinforcing that the voice of parents, the cornerstone of the American family, should never be silenced.

Gov. Youngkin’s decisive action echoes the sentiments of many: The rights of parents to protect their children and to be involved in their education should never be compromised. This pardon is more than an exoneration for Scott Smith; it’s a reclaiming of parental rights, sending a strong signal that in Virginia, and hopefully across the nation, parents matter.