The 2023 Virginia state and local elections didn't exactly go the way conservatives wanted them to, but there were some big victories. None was more significant to this writer, and to many other Virginians, than the ouster of Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Buta Biberaj in her bid for re-election.
We won't recap all of Biberaj's many transgressions, all of which were disqualifying, but all Virginians and many others will remember how she prosecuted Loudoun County father Scott Smith, whose crime was attending a school board meeting to protest the sexual assault of his daughter in a school ... a sexual assault that the school board covered up. Thankfully, Smith was pardoned by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (much to Biberaj's chagrin), but she had made a lifelong enemy of Smith, and who can blame him? He vowed to help defeat her, among other actions he is taking against Loudoun County.
On Nov. 15, Biberaj announced that she was conceding the election to Republican Bob Anderson.
Buta Biberaj concedes and announces she will not pursue a recount. @7NewsDC pic.twitter.com/liUZ2GNtEo
— Nick Minock (@NickMinock) November 15, 2023
Plenty of people were happy to see her go.
Hopefully she’ll never be in a position of power again.
— Silence and Frost (@secjr112) November 15, 2023
Buta Biberaj conceded.
— Loudoun Love Warriors Watch (@LLWWatch) November 15, 2023
Our work here is done.
Buta’s concession was as chaotic as her tenure. https://t.co/TldhVEKq93
Bye bye Buta. Good riddance
— Common Sense (@BiotechNewbie) November 15, 2023
GIRL BYE. https://t.co/i3nA9snq8z
— Emily (@hostagehoosier) November 15, 2023
Oh, but it gets even better. If you were busy (as we were) not paying attention to anything Biberaj was saying, you probably noticed a lone protester in the back carrying a sign behind her supporters. The sign read 'Boot Buta.' Many on Twitter were quick to spot that too.
The guy in the back!
— Mom’s Right (@ex_lefty) November 15, 2023
😂
This is hilarious... The man with the Boot Buta sign is a legend. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣 https://t.co/31FNRTrPLL
— Thomas Redd (@ThomasRedd16) November 15, 2023
Anyone know what the story is with the dueling sign battle behind her? 😂 https://t.co/9x9sZTMkyT
— Holly Thornton 🇺🇸 (@beachmamax2) November 15, 2023
Why, funny you should ask. We do know the story. The man carrying the Boot Buta sign is none other than Scott Smith himself, celebrating the departure of the woman who supported the school board's coverup of his daughter's assault and tried to send him to jail.
Karma, as they say, is a b*tch.
— LORD SCREWTAPE (@screwtape1a12) November 16, 2023
Supporters of Soros-funded prosecutor Buta Biberaj hold up a sign to block out Scott Smith, the father who she tried to imprison for calling attention to his daughter's rape, as she concedes defeat to a Republican who spent 1/16th the money. Smith's sign says "Boot Buta." https://t.co/JFmN6CxDEV
— Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) November 15, 2023
Scott Smith takes a well-deserved victory lap on Buta.
— Jon Tigges (@jontigges) November 16, 2023
Every Loudoun County resident owes @scottsm25937858 a debt of gratitude for standing courageously against the tyranny of Buta, Ziegler, and Chapman. https://t.co/ZWG2elCw37
Well played, Scott! pic.twitter.com/ivtVvkKZXS
— SteveInRVA (@SteveinRVA) November 15, 2023
It was even more glorious when Biberaj's team tried to go back and cover up his sign. But they don't know the determination of a father like Smith. He just calmly held the sign above them for the length of her concession speech.
Given everything his family has been through for the past few years, it seems only fitting to let Smith have the final word on this election and the defeat of the woman who tried to destroy them.
My mission was to rid Loudoun of you. Mission Accomplished. Good bye @ButaBiberaj https://t.co/1vzd3xfIxw
— Scott T Smith (@scottsm25937858) November 11, 2023
Evil met it’s match today. pic.twitter.com/rr6erdth5Z
— Scott T Smith (@scottsm25937858) November 16, 2023
Smith's daughter is now an adult, and he has said that she will be speaking out soon about what was done to her, both by her assailant and by Loudoun County officials.
The defeat of Buta Biberaj was a victory for Loudoun County and a victory for Virginia but, more importantly, it was a huge and more than well-deserved victory for the Smith family.