Scott Smith Receives Pardon After Confrontation at School Board Meeting Regarding Transgender Student Protections

RICHMOND, VA – Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has issued a pardon to Scott Smith, a man who was convicted in 2021 on charges stemming from an incident at a school board meeting. The incident occurred after Smith’s daughter was sexually assaulted in a high school bathroom. Smith had faced charges of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct related to his actions during the meeting.

The pardon granted by Governor Youngkin cited that Scott Smith had been involved in a confrontation during a Loudoun County School Board meeting in June 2021. The confrontation arose from allegations that a community member had threatened to disseminate false and damaging information about Smith’s business, intending to harm his reputation. Smith was also accused of making threats against the police deputies who removed him from the event.

In his pardon statement, Governor Youngkin emphasized that Scott Smith had been “publicly and falsely accused of ‘domestic terrorism’ and ‘hate crimes'” while advocating for his daughter’s well-being.

Although the conviction for obstruction of justice was later dismissed on appeal, Smith was scheduled to stand trial later this month for the disorderly conduct charge.

Governor Youngkin expressed his support for Scott Smith, saying, “Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who’s faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter… I am pleased to grant Scott Smith this pardon and help him and his family put this injustice behind them once and for all.”

In response to the pardon, Scott Smith conveyed his gratitude to Governor Youngkin and clarified that he had not initially intended to speak at the school board meeting. However, he became concerned about the school board’s agenda, particularly regarding the safety of not only his daughter but also other children.

Smith recounted, “When the School Board abruptly ended the meeting, I was confronted and taunted by activists supporting the School Board’s bathroom policy.” He further claimed that despite facing an unprovoked confrontation and threats against him and his family, he was subjected to unreasonable restraint by law enforcement, which he asserted violated his constitutional rights.

The case garnered national attention due to its connection to ongoing debates concerning the rights of transgender students in schools. Reports had circulated that Smith’s daughter was sexually assaulted by a male student wearing a skirt.

Smith clarified his primary concern at the time, stating, “I wasn’t even concerned about the fact that it was a boy wearing a skirt in the girls’ bathroom at the time… I’m focused on the fact that my daughter just got raped.”

The teenager found guilty of assaulting Smith’s daughter was subsequently convicted of forcibly touching a classmate at another school while awaiting trial in juvenile court.

In response to the sexual assault cases and their handling, the northern Virginia school board terminated its superintendent. A special grand jury investigation revealed that the superintendent had provided false information regarding the initial sexual assault and accused the school district of repeated mishandling of the assault cases.