{"id":14210,"date":"2020-08-25T13:04:41","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T17:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=14210"},"modified":"2020-08-25T13:04:41","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T17:04:41","slug":"jerry-falwell-jr-says-hes-resigned-from-liberty-university-amidst-conflicting-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2020\/08\/jerry-falwell-jr-says-hes-resigned-from-liberty-university-amidst-conflicting-reports","title":{"rendered":"Jerry Falwell Jr. Says He\u2019s Resigned From Liberty University Amidst Conflicting Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Gage Skidmore\/Flickr.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Liberty University released a statement saying he agreed to resign, then took it back.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hours after Liberty University released a statement saying Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed to resign then reversed course, Falwell Jr. told the Wall Street Journal<\/em> he is officially stepping down.<\/p>\n

This decision was following a tumultuous day during which he went back and forth with the university\u2019s board of trustees over his future at the school.<\/p>\n

In a phone call to the Wall Street Journal<\/em>, Falwell shared he had just sent his resignation letter to the board of Liberty University.<\/p>\n

Politico<\/em> had previously reported that during a phone call with Falwell Monday, he said, \u201cI have not resigned.\u201d When he was asked about news reports that said he had resigned had gotten out, he reportedly told Politico<\/em>, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Liberty University officials said Falwell had agreed to resign earlier that day, then withdrew his resignation after media reports of his decision.<\/p>\n

Falwell had been placed on an indefinite leave of absence two weeks ago. This followed criticism about a photo he posted on social media showing him with his pants unbuttoned, a cup of dark liquid in one hand, and his other arm draped around a woman.<\/p>\n

The woman, who Falwell said was his wife\u2019s assistant, also had her pants open.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe board put me on leave, took away my duties as prez, and that\u2019s not permitted by my contract. and they put me on leave because of pressure from self-righteous people,\u201d Falwell said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdditional 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,\u201d the university said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Pressure had been mounting for the university to permanently part ways with Falwell after Reuters reported that Falwell and his wife had maintained a long-term sexual relationship with Giancarlo Granda.<\/p>\n

Granda reported that she had met the Falwells at a Miami hotel in 2012 when she was 20 years old. He said that he met up with the couple, and would have sex with Mrs. Falwell, while Mr. Falwell watched.<\/p>\n

Falwell said his wife had an affair with Granda, but he had not taken part in it. He accused Granda of trying to extort them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of what that guy said, the extortionist, is not true,\u201d Falwell said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liberty University released a statement saying he agreed to resign, then took it back. Hours after Liberty University released a statement saying Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed to resign then reversed course, Falwell Jr. told the Wall Street Journal he is officially stepping down. This decision was following a tumultuous day during which he went back…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":565,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[2499,1660,2439,3074,2551,3077,769,2402],"class_list":["post-14210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-breaking-christian-news","tag-christian-news","tag-conservative-christian-news","tag-jerry-falwell-jr","tag-liberty-university","tag-resignation","tag-scandal","tag-sex-scandal"],"yoast_head":"\nJerry Falwell Jr. Says He\u2019s Resigned From Liberty University Amidst Conflicting Reports<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jerry Falwell Jr. Says He\u2019s Resigned From Liberty University Amidst Conflicting Reports\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Liberty University released a statement saying he agreed to resign, then took it back. Hours after Liberty University released a statement saying Jerry Falwell Jr. agreed to resign then reversed course, Falwell Jr. told the Wall Street Journal he is officially stepping down. 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