LIBERTY TELLS STAFF TO REFRAIN FROM INTERACTING WITH FALWELL

Staff members at Liberty University have been instructed to refrain from interacting with the school’s ousted president, Jerry Falwell Jr.

The university’s general counsel, David Corry, wrote in an email to staff Thursday that Falwell had made “uncomfortable” calls to some employees after resigning last week, The & Advance reported Friday. Corry told employees they cannot give Falwell information about the school or do any favors for him while on the job because the interactions could create the perception that he is helping manage the school.

“This impression is not well received by our supporters who do not want Mr. Falwell to be running Liberty University behind the scenes,” Corry wrote.

Falwell’s departure from the university came after a news outlet published an interview with Giancarlo Granda, a much younger business partner of the Falwell family. Granda said that he had a yearslong sexual relationship with Becki Falwell and that Jerry Falwell participated in some of the liaisons as a voyeur.

Although the Falwells have acknowledged that Granda and Becki Falwell had an affair, Jerry Falwell has denied any particinews pation. The couple allege that Granda sought to extort them by threatening to reveal the relationship unless he was paid substantial monies.

Granda, 29, has denied trying to extort the Falwells.

Falwell, who held the role of university president since 2007, did not return a request for comment.

A university spokesperson also declined to give a comment about Corry’s email.