Jerry Falwell Jr to receive $10m payoff after Liberty University resignation

Jerry Falwell Jr could be paid $10.5m in compensation for stepping down from his position as president of Liberty University, according to reports.

Mr Falwell, one of the country’s highest-profile evangelical Christians, announced that he would step down as the president of the university on Monday following a number of personal scandals.

The attorney told CNN on Tuesday that he will receive about $2.5m from the establishment during the next two years and another $8m thereafter in compensation.

Mr Falwell told The Washington Post that the money comes in part because he is departing from the university without being formally accused of or admitting to wrongdoing.

The news comes following a number of conflicting reports surrounding whether the president would resign from his position or not.

Liberty University said on Tuesday that its board had accepted Mr Falwell’s resignation as president, chancellor and board member, effective immediately.

The resignation comes after Mr Falwell became embroiled in a number of scandals over the last few months.

On Monday, a business partner of the Falwell's, Giancarlo Granda, went public with claims that he was involved in a years-long sexual relationship involving both Mr Falwell’s wife and the evangelical leader.

Mr Granda, who met the couple while working as a pool attendant in Miami, told Reuters that the relationship involved him having sex with Becki Falwell while Mr Falwell looked on.

Before the publication of Reuters' report a lawyer for Jerry Falwell, Michael Bowe, said the evangelical leader “categorically denies everything you indicated you intend to publish about him.”

On Monday Mr Falwell released a statement to The Washington Examiner acknowledging that his wife had an affair with an "ambitious young man" but stipulated that he was “not involved” in the affair.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Falwell for further comment.

“Ms Falwell had an inappropriate personal relationship with this person, something in which I was not involved – it was nonetheless very upsetting to learn about,” Mr Falwell said in a statement. He did not identify the man involved.

The former president alleged that his wife’s ex-lover had continually tried to blackmail his family following the affair with his wife, an accusation which Mr Granada has categorically denied.

Mr Granda told The Examiner: “any allegation of extortion is falsely, defamatory and belied by clear documentary evidence.”

Earlier this month, Mr Falwell announced he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the university after he was forced to apologise for a photograph he posted on social media with his trousers unzipped and his shirt pulled up over his stomach.

At the time, Mr Falwell, who has held positions at the university since 2007, told WLNI that the photograph was taken during a costume party and was just “good fun”.

Alumni and others criticised Mr Falwell, saying the photo was evidence of hypocritical behaviour from the leader of a university where students must follow a strict code of conduct.

The resignation comes as a severe blow for one of the country’s most visible conservative Christian leaders and ardent Trump supporters, ending back-to-back Falwell leadership at the university, which was founded by Jerry Falwell senior.

“The university's heartfelt prayers are with him and his family as he steps away from his life's work,” Liberty University said on Tuesday in a statement.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.