Thursday | October 14th, 2021

It’s Thursday, October 14th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast:

1) Exclusive: Loudon County Scandal Update

The Topline: This week, The Daily Wire reported exclusively on a Loudoun County father who was arrested for disorderly conduct at a school board meeting where parents were protesting a new transgender bathroom policy. 

The father made national news as a potential “domestic terrorist,” but it was later revealed that his 9th-grade daughter had allegedly been raped by a male student in a girls bathroom. Now, parents are demanding accountability from the school board for allegedly concealing the alleged assault. 

Quote Of The Day: “My wife and I had to spend the entire summer rebuilding our daughter.”

– Scott Smith, alleged rape victim’s father

Via Fox News

Parents Outraged

On Tuesday night, the Board met, where more than 60 parents and residents spoke, and most demanded the resignation of superintendent Scott Ziegler. Daily Wire reporting revealed that during a conversation on transgender bathroom policies, Ziegler told the public the school district had no bathroom assaults on record three weeks after Smith’s daughter was allegedly raped. 

Sheriff Confirms Reporting

A local sheriff confirmed that a second alleged attack in a different school was committed by the same male student. The Smith family had been assured the student was placed on house arrest following the initial sexual assault, but he was seemingly allowed to go to school. They were also never notified that the student had allegedly assaulted another female student.

The School Responds

On Wednesday, Loudon County Public Schools put out a statement, essentially reiterating the school policy on sexual assault. They said they did report the May 28th rape to the police, and said school board members generally aren’t told about disciplinary problems. 

The school board said:

“Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office was contacted within minutes of receiving the initial report on May 28. Once a matter has been reported to law enforcement, LCPS does not begin its investigation until law enforcement advises LCPS that it has completed the criminal investigation… Furthermore, LCPS is prohibited from disciplining any student without following the Title Nine grievance process, which includes investigating complaints of sexual harassment and sexual assault.” 

DNY59 via Getty Images

2) Fentanyl Counterfeit Pill Crisis

The Topline: Federal officials have issued a warning