Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. promised to resign as leader of the school but backed out following media reports, according to a statement from the school.
In an interview with Virginia Business, Falwell Jr. said that reports claiming he was resigning from the school are “completely false.” However, in a statement to the Washington Examiner, the university said he reneged his promise to depart his position after the media began reporting on an arranged agreement.
“On the first day of classes of Liberty University’s fall term, Jerry Falwell, Jr., agreed to resign as its President and from its Board of Directors, but following media reports about the resignation, withdrew it. The Executive Committee’s Board of Trustees asked Falwell to go on indefinite leave of absence on August 7, to which he agreed. Since that time, additional matters came to light that made it clear that it would not be in the best interest of the University for him to return from leave and serve as President. The Executive Committee met this morning and a conference call gathering of the full Board was planned for tomorrow,” the statement reads.
“Falwell responded by agreeing to resign immediately as President of Liberty University today but then instructed his attorneys to not tender the letter for immediate resignation. The Executive Committee will go forward with its meeting in the morning followed by the full Board. Acting President Jerry Prevo said, ‘I call upon the University community and supporters to be in prayer for the University and for all its leadership, past, present and future, as we walk with the Lord through this stormy time of transition,'” the statement continues.
Soon after the statement came out, Falwell said he sent his letter of resignation to the university’s board on Monday night.
“The board put me on leave, took away my duties as prez, and that’s not permitted by my contract,” Falwell said, according to the Wall Street Journal. “And they put me on leave because of pressure from self-righteous people.”
Falwell also said he is still owed his full compensation, according to the Wall Street Journal.
A source told the Washington Examiner that an additional statement from Liberty University should be expected on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Reuters published a report about Giancarlo Granda, a business partner of Falwell Jr., claiming he had an affair lasting several years with the evangelical leader’s wife, Becki, and that Falwell Jr. was involved. “Becki and I developed an intimate relationship, and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room,” Granda said.
Falwell Jr. acknowledged the affair ahead of the report’s release but denied being aware of it at the time it occurred. He added that the ordeal brought him severe depression.
“Becki had an inappropriate personal relationship with this person, something in which I was not involved — it was nonetheless very upsetting to learn about. After I learned this, I lost 80 pounds and people who saw me regularly thought that I was physically unwell, when in reality I was just balancing how to be most supportive of Becki, who I love, while also reflecting and praying about whether there were ways I could have been more supportive of her and given her proper attention,” he said in a Sunday statement to the Washington Examiner.
He claimed that Granda “began threatening to publicly reveal this secret relationship,” characterizing him as having “increasingly erratic behavior and unreasonable demands.” Granda denied claims that he attempted to threaten Falwell’s family.
“Any allegation of extortion is falsely, defamatory and belied by clear documentary evidence. The Falwell’s attempt to sandbag me, and the Examiner, with a last minute story without providing the Examiner clear evidence that this was not simply an ‘affair’ with concocted allegations of extortion reeks desperation. The WHOLE truth will come out,” Granda told the Washington Examiner.
Falwell Jr. took an indefinite leave of absence from the religious school earlier this month after posting an image on social media many deemed inappropriate. The school’s Board of Trustees requested Falwell Jr. step down from his leadership roles, to which he agreed.
Falwell Jr. faced scrutiny for an image he posted on Instagram, and he later deleted it. The picture showed him with his wife’s assistant, both wearing unzipped pants. Part of his underwear was visible.
