(CP) Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of Liberty University, made his first campus visit since reaching a compromise with administrators over disagreements over his 2020 resignation.
Falwell and his wife, Becki, attended a football game at the Lynchburg, Virginia-based Evangelical institution founded by his father on Saturday, having previously been banned from the campus during the litigation.
“It’s so wonderful, after spending the better part of 40 years imagining and building what’s here, to be able to come and enjoy it without all of the responsibility on my shoulders,” Falwell told WSET News.
Following his retirement in 2020 because to charges of adulterous sexual misbehavior against him and his spouse, Falwell was prohibited from returning to campus. Last month, Falwell’s suspension from the university where his brother Jonathan is currently chancellor was lifted.
At the homecoming football game against the University of Texas at El Paso, dozens of people gave the Falwells hugs and the occasional selfie, according to WSET.
“We see them in town; they approach us, strike up a conversation, and ask to take pictures, and that has always been the case. Anticipating a reunion with every pupil,” he remarked.
Jerry Falwell Jr., the son of Liberty University founder and well-known conservative religious political activist The Rev. Jerry Falwell, took over as the institution’s leader after his father passed away in 2007.
As one of the first prominent Evangelical leaders to support former President Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, Falwell Jr. attracted the attention of the national media during the 2016 presidential election cycle.
In August 2020, the Liberty Board of Trustees announced that they had accepted Falwell’s immediate resignation from his positions as chancellor, president and board of directors member.
The resignation came after revelations surfaced that Falwell’s wife had had an affair with a 29-year-old man named Giancarlo Granda, which commenced several years earlier.
Granda later attempted to blackmail the couple, telling Reuters that the Liberty president was aware of the extramarital affair and even “enjoyed watching from the corner of the room.”
Falwell denied any role in the affair, even though he had admitted in a statement that his wife “had an inappropriate personal relationship with” Granda.
Later, in 2020, Falwell filed a lawsuit against Liberty Leadership, claiming that they had forced him to quit by accepting unfounded allegations against his moral character without conducting adequate due diligence.
“While I have nothing but love and appreciation for the Liberty community, and I had hoped to avoid litigation, I must take the necessary steps to restore my reputation and hopefully help repair the damage to the Liberty University brand in the process,” Falwell stated in a 2020 statement.
The university and Falwell have been involved in legal disputes since 2020. In July, Falwell and Liberty announced that they had reached a settlement, stating that it would settle “all outstanding disputes on both legal and personal matters.” They added, “This agreement is grounded in a firm commitment to protecting and preserving Liberty’s original mission of developing Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact the world.”
“It is based on a mutual understanding regarding the amount Liberty University will pay its former president in authorized retirement and severance under the various disputed agreements and in keeping with the law; and the conditions under which the University will make use of Dr Jerry Falwell Sr’s name, image, and likeness.”
The two parties noted they “regret the lengthy and painful litigation process,” with each side taking “responsibility for their part in the disputes.”
“Falwell acknowledges and apologises for the errors in judgement and mistakes made during his time of leadership. The Board of Trustees acknowledge and apologise for the errors and mistakes made on their part as well,” they added.
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