In a darkened plane returning to Tulsa after their interview on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Tuesday, Lindsay Roberts stepped into the aisle to hug her husband, the president of Oral Roberts University, and to pray.

Chairman George Pearsons, co-pastor of Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, Texas, said regents have approved an independent investigation into allegations made against the university last week in a lawsuit

Transcript of Richard Roberts’ appearance on Larry King Live.

Oral Roberts was blind-sided by allegations that the university he founded was being exploited by his son and daughter-in-law, the aging televangelist said Tuesday in his first public comments on the case.

One of America’s leading Christian universities has been hit by lurid allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, the latest scandal to engulf the world of televangelism.

Bishop Carlton Pearson, who for 15 years was on the Oral Roberts University Board of Regents, said Tuesday he was not surprised by the lawsuit filed against ORU, its president Richard Roberts and others.

Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts and his wife, Lindsay Roberts, denied on Tuesday that they had misused university money, allegations made against them in a lawsuit a week ago.

Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts will appear on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight in his first public interview since the university was accused of violating the school’s tax-exempt status by donating resources to a political campaign.

Oral Roberts University captured attention for money woes and messages from God long before a lawsuit filed last week alleged illegal political involvement and misspending for the benefit of the university president’s family. But Tulsans said they are waiting for evidence to back up the recent accusations before guessing at the fate of the city’s charismatic Christian icon.

In response to allegations that Oral Roberts University money was misspent, regents decided on Friday to strengthen the university’s financial accountability by retaining an additional independent auditing firm.

Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for Roberts’ university, or else he would be “called home.” Now, his son, Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts, says God is speaking again, telling him to deny lurid allegations in a lawsuit that threatens to engulf this 44-year-old Bible Belt college in scandal.

Federal officials declined to comment Wednesday on whether there was an investigation into violations of the tax code by Oral Roberts University, but the school president had plenty to say to students and staff.

He says three former professors suing him and the school are attempting blackmail.

Three former professors have filed a lawsuit against Oral Roberts University, alleging they were wrongfully fired after they reported the private Christian school’s involvement in a local political race.