Jerry Falwell Jr. Leaves Liberty University After Waffling On Resignation Prompted By Sex Scandal

TOPLINE

Jerry Falwell Jr. capped off a day of flip-flopping when he made his resignation from Liberty University official late on Monday night, following earlier reports that he would leave his post after a former pool boy said he engaged in a years-long sexual relationship with Falwell and his wife.

KEY FACTS

Crucial quote

“There comes a time when you say, ‘OK, my work is done,’ and it might be today,” Falwell Jr. told the WSJ around 4 PM ET Monday, just hours before he confirmed his resignation to the paper. 

Key background

Falwell Jr. took over as president of Liberty University in 2007. The school was founded in 1971 by his father, evangelical pastor Jerry Falwell Sr. In September 2019, Politico published an in-depth report on Falwell Jr.’s “dictatorship” at the university and his reported self-dealing by directing funds into real estate deals and projects that benefited his friends. At the time, Falwell Jr. reportedly discussed his sex life in crude terms with employees. According to Monday’s Reuters report, Granda said, “Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room,” with numerous trysts occurring at Miami and New York hotels, along with the couple’s Virginia home. Granda provided emails, text messages and other evidence to support his claims. Falwell Jr. provided a 1,200 word statement to the Washington Examiner, that, among other things, denied he took part in the affair with Granda, and accused him of extortion.

Tangent

Granda’s connection to the Falwell’s first came to light in 2018, when Buzzfeed News reported that a business deal between the three turned sour, resulting in a lawsuit. 

Further reading

Jerry Falwell Jr. Says He Has Resigned as Liberty University President (Wall Street Journal)

Jerry Falwell Jr. Denies Reports He’s Quitting As President Of Liberty University Amid Sex Scandal (Forbes)

Report: Former Pool Boy Describes Years-Long Sexual Relationship With Jerry Falwell Jr. And Wife (Forbes)