Falwell Reportedly Is Resigning From Liberty U

Some confusion Monday evening on the fate of Jerry Falwell Jr.: An official with evangelical Liberty University said he had agreed to resign amid allegations about his wife's sexual relationship with a much younger business partner, the AP reports. But after the report surfaced, Falwell denied that he'd stepped down, per the Washington Post, apparently because a financial settlement hadn't been reached. Talks were continuing Monday night. The developments came a day after Falwell publicly disclosed that his wife had an affair. Hours before Falwell reportedly agreed to leave, Reuters reported that Falwell knew of his wife's affair and participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur. Falwell's statement also said the person with whom Becki Falwell had the affair had threatened to reveal the relationship unless "we agreed to pay him substantial monies."

An early and ardent supporter of President Trump, Falwell had been on an indefinite leave since early August as president and chancellor of the Lynchburg, Va., university founded by his late father, the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. He took the leave after an uproar sparked by a photo he posted on social media that showed him with his pants unzipped, stomach exposed, and arm high around the waist of his wife's pregnant assistant. Falwell has said the photo was taken at a costume party during a family vacation. Critics of the photo said it was evidence of hypocritical behavior from the leader of a university where students must follow a strict code of conduct that includes modest dress and a ban on alcohol consumption and premarital sex.