Liberty University has announced that it will be conducting an investigation into the conduct of former president Jerry Falwell Jr after he resigned amid a sex scandal.
In a statement, the university board said it had brought in an outside firm to investigate “all facets” of Falwell's running of the school, adding that it was “committed to learning the consequences that have flowed from a lack of spiritual stewardship by our former president".
Falwell gave up his position at the university after being placed on leave for posting a picture on his Instagram account in which he was seen with his trousers unzipped. Shortly after this, Falwell - the son of Liberty's founder Rev Jerry Falwell - released a statement saying his wife had engaged in an illicit affair with their former business associate. In the statement issued to the Washington Examiner, Falwell insisted that he was not involved in the tryst.
The next day, Falwell's statement was followed by a bombshell report in Reuters in which the former business associate revealed intimate details of an affair between himself, Falwell's wife Becki and Jerry Falwell Jr himself.
Falwell has repeatedly denied that he was involved in the affair.
Following his departure from Liberty, and in light of his refusal to admit any wrongdoing, last week it was announced that the former president would be receiving a $10.5 million compensatory package over the next 24 months. "The board was gracious not to challenge that,” Falwell told the Washington Post. “There wasn’t any cause. I haven’t done anything.”
Last week, campus pastor David Nasser personally apologised to the student body over the scandal, calling Falwell's behaviour "shameful".
"Let me begin by saying to you, I am sorry," Nasser told the large gathering of students on Wednesday. "In my opinion, you as a Liberty student deserve better and the embarrassment that’s been brought upon you as a Liberty student and more importantly brought upon the name of Christ is wrong. I know that many of you are hurting and that breaks my heart. Your concerns, if you’re concerned, are valid. If you’re not concerned, you should be concerned."