Trey Falwell, son of former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., has left the school where he was vice president about eight months after his father resigned amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.
A spokesperson for the school, Scott Lamb, told Politico on Wednesday that the younger Falwell is “no longer employed by the university,” and said that this change happened “this week,” but did offer any other details. Lamb did not say whether or not Jerry Falwell Jr.’s other son, Wesley Falwell, or his daughters-in-law are still working for the school.
Liberty University “does not answer questions about personnel,” he said.
This news comes just weeks after Jerry Falwell Jr., the son of the school’s founder, told Politico that he is still welcomed by the Liberty community.
“The employees and the board have been nothing but supportive, 100 percent. The students all want to get their picture with me. They thank me,” Falwell said.
He added that his “contract was terminated without cause. I’m entitled to full severance,” including two years’ worth of pay and retirement benefits that could amount to more than $9 million in total. “And the university board admitted there was no fireable offense and they were reacting more to the press and the Twitter mob than anything else.”
Liberty University acting President Jerry Prevo said in a statement to school employees that was obtained by Politico: “No Liberty University employee at any level is permitted to communicate with Jerry Falwell, Jr. or Becki Falwell about university matters,” and said that the “easiest way to avoid any issue is to not take calls or otherwise respond to messages from Jerry or Becki Falwell until further notice.”
The school’s board announced last year that the accounting firm Baker Tilly had investigated the school’s business dealings under Falwell.
“Liberty University is engaged in a forensic investigation focused on the university’s operations during Jerry Falwell Jr.’s tenure,” Prevo added. “This notice is sent to preserve the integrity of the investigation and ensure that Jerry Falwell Jr. is not having any influence on the investigation or the university’s operations, directly or indirectly.”
Falwell resigned last year after a man claimed to have had a long affair with Becki Falwell and that Falwell had been observing on occasion. The Falwells admitted that Becki had an affair, but denied that Jerry was involved. Politico later reported that a former Liberty student claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Becki while at their home.
Trey Falwell, who also operates a real estate management company that is in charge of a shopping plaza owned by Liberty University, did not respond to Politico’s request for comment.
Source: Newmax
