Becki Tilley

 As part of a succession plan that the elder Falwell established prior to his death, Jerry Jr. was to be given the responsibility of Liberty University while Jerry Sr.'s other son, Jonathan Falwell, inherited the pastorate at Thomas Road Baptist Church. The decision was based on the personalities of each: Jerry Jr. had an aggressive business mindset, while Jonathan was more charismatic and interested in ministry. The succession plan was put into effect after Jerry Sr. died in 2007.Under Falwell Jr., Liberty University came under scrutiny for its apparent control of authority over students and employees as well as nepotism in the direction of Falwell family-owned companies in the university's investment portfolio, and the increasing influence of his wife Becki on school issues. In 2001, Falwell established two companies that made property deals with Liberty-affiliated nonprofits. His two sons as well as their wives were on Liberty's payroll. [9] A 2019 Politico article described the college as a "dictatorship" where Falwell had a monopoly on fear. it also stated that the school had advertised merchandise in support of Donald Trump's presidential campaign and it was reported that Falwell Jr. had crude conversations about his sexual life at work and also showed other Liberty employees provocative photos of his wife. Falwell's leadership style was also criticized in a letter Jamie Raskin and Andy Levin sent to Betsy DeVos. It claimed that Falwell personally prevented students from writing columns critical about Trump. [10][11A Reuters investigation, published in August 2019, alleged that Falwell was a signer of a real-estate agreement in 2016 that transferred the sports facilities of Liberty University to his personal trainer, who did not put down any money for the deal The publication reported that instead, Liberty immediately paid almost $650,000 to the trainer, who now owned the property, to lease the property for nine years.On August 7 in 2020, Liberty University announced that Falwell will be taking an indefinite absence from his post due to a controversial photo he had posted on social media that included him wearing his pants loose and his arms wrapped tied around the waist of a woman's shorts were also unzipped.On August 23rd, Falwell made a public declaration that his wife had an affair and that they had been targeted by blackmail. Reuters published a story claiming that Falwell was being watched by Falwell perform sexual acts with his wife. The following day, on the 24th of August the news was published by Reuters that Falwell quit from Liberty University. [15] Falwell immediately denied the claim and the school claimed that negotiations were ongoing. On August 25 On August 25, Both Falwell as well as Liberty University confirmed that the former employee had resigned.Because Falwell is resigning from his job without a formal charge or confession of any wrongdoing, Falwell will be awarded an $10.5 million in severance package.After the resignation, Liberty opened an investigation into his involvement in the school's finances and real estate. Transactions that personally benefit an individual may jeopardize Liberty's tax exempt status. In October, 2020, Falwell sued Liberty University to tarnish his reputation, but in December 2020 , the university dropped the lawsuit On April 15 2021, Liberty University sued Falwell for damages of $40 million in breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties. [19] Falwell has reopened the defamation suit against Liberty University in November 2021.