Two journalists who entered Liberty University’s campus to report stories about the school keeping its dorms open during the coronavirus pandemic will not be prosecuted for criminal trespass.
The two, ProPublica reporter Alec MacGillis and freelance photojournalist Julia Rendleman, reported on the campus in late March. A few days earlier, the school had put up “no trespassing” signs at its entrances, the city of Lynchburg said.
Bethany Harrison, the commonwealth’s attorney for the city of Lynchburg, actually concluded that the proof met the statutory requirements to support a criminal trespass charge, per a statement from the city obtained by TPM.
“However, after consultation and agreement with Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., she elects not to pursue criminal prosecution and penalties against these journalists,” the statement read.
Both journalists issued apologies through their lawyers, asserting that they did not know about the no trespassing requirements, which were put in place in response to the pandemic.
“President Falwell is satisfied with having the reporters understand that they have to respect the no trespassing signs,” said Liberty University spokesperson Scott Lamb about the reason for the dropped charges.
Falwell announced that he’d be pursuing criminal trespass charges at the beginning of April on the right-wing radio show, the “Todd Starnes Show.”
Warrants were obtained by Detective Sergeant Alan Wilkins with the Liberty University Police Department.
Falwell became the subject of many news stories after publicly downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, then letting students return to opened dorms after spring break. By that point, many colleges across the country had at least temporarily shuttered.
Read the commonwealth’s attorney for the city of Lynchburg’s statement here:
This story has been updated with a response from Liberty University.
I think it went down just a tad differently than that. Liberty went after the two Journalist because they didn’t want them to report on an issue. In order for criminal trespass to fly LU would have to prove the Journalists were aware they could not be on campus but did so anyway. Given the campus is a semi-public space that would be impossible and I doubt any prosecutor would take it on.
Intimidation not justice was Falwell’s intent.
So Jerry is going to forgive them their trespasses?
How very xtian of him…
…the school had put up “no trespassing” signs at its entrances…
Just like Jesus instructed.
Well, it’s like the Good Book says… lemme see, where was that… oh, right here in Two Journalists!
Jerry Falwell, Jr. is the Eric Trump of the Falwell family.