The Reverend and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. received backlash for his decision to reopen the campus to students and faculty, despite the viral pandemic that's shut down schools across the country.
The devout Trump supporter and conspiracy theorist bristled when news of his decision broke, and he only became more hostile when reports emerged that students at the university were showing symptoms of the virus.
Falwell even secured arrest warrants from the campus police for one reporter and one photojournalist, accusing them of trespassing.
He's now taken his aggression even further with a midnight voicemail to a New York Times reporter, in which he said:
"You're in serious trouble."
Falwell falsely accused the New York Times of endangering Liberty University students, saying they traveled from New York. In reality, the Times' photographer whom Falwell sued for trespassing was local.
People widely condemned Falwell's escalation.
@HuffPostPol That fellow ainâ��t right— Kathy Scolley (@Kathy Scolley) 1587138744.0
@HuffPostPol Geez! What are the board of directors of Liberty thinking?! This man is ruining the reputation of that school.— Suzanne Archer (@Suzanne Archer) 1587138783.0
@HuffPostPol â��Jesus and the Lawsuitâ�� - I must have missed that parable in my King James Bible.— Stephen Hummus (@Stephen Hummus) 1587139304.0
That reporter should file a police report! They donâ��t have to put up with this crap! https://t.co/7CNK3Fb5vu— Nancy Stinson (@Nancy Stinson) 1587139291.0
Since reopening the campus, two employees have tested positive for the virus, with others awaiting results or showing symptoms.
Students of the campus have since filed a class action lawsuit accusing Falwell of endangering them.
The court of public opinion hasn't been in his favor.
Jerry Falwell Jr. is one of those "Total Authority, No Responsibility" types. Authoritarian irresponsibility doesn'â�¦ https://t.co/jVa1zqj6hk— Bill Kristol (@Bill Kristol) 1587045775.0
My mom went to the doctor in Lynchburg and they handed her a questionnaire. Have you had a fever, cough, etc. Butâ�¦ https://t.co/7PG7VToHAz— Carter Elliott, IVð�¥� (@Carter Elliott, IVð�¥�) 1587056410.0
@HuffPost It is truly sad that @LibertyU leadership failed their faulty, staff, and students in such a fundamentalâ�¦ https://t.co/NbhKK1Yjj2— patricia mabrouk (@patricia mabrouk) 1586959781.0
@LincolnsBible Jerry Falwell Jr. needs to be tried for criminal negligence and malfeasance.— Negrodamus ð�§�ð��¾â��â��ï¸� (@Negrodamus ð�§�ð��¾â��â��ï¸�) 1586885643.0
For a deeper look into the unholy alliance between the white evangelical community and the GOP, check out The Immoral Majority, available here.