Josh Duggar admits he was charged with molesting minors during his teens. His parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar say it’s true as well. A police report from back in 2005 hit the media yesterday, proving that the eldest of the 19 Kids and Counting siblings sexually assaulted his sisters–all minors at the time–as well as another female minor.
This means it’s quite likely that Jill Duggar Dillard, who recently had her first baby, and Jessa Duggar Seewald, who is expecting her first baby on November 1st, were among the sisters who were molested.
Josh Duggar gave a statement to People magazine on Thursday.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,” Josh, 27, said in the statement. “I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”
Josh Duggar has resigned from his position at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., where he lives with his wife, Anna Duggar, and their three children. They are expecting their fourth child.
The Duggars respond to reports that Josh Duggar was accused of child molestation http://t.co/wZTZ5eWija #19Kids @TLC pic.twitter.com/3BHdJNrcNw
— People magazine (@people) May 21, 2015
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, the 19 Kids and Counting patriarch and matriarch–and Josh Duggar’s parents–issued a joint statement to People.
“Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives,” their statement reads. “When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.”
“Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles every day. It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God’s kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us–even though we are so undeserving. We hope somehow the story of our journey–the good times and the difficult times–cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything,” Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar’s statement continued.
Josh Duggar has issued an apology in the wake of bombshell molestation claims http://t.co/TO3dI9uocT
— New York Post (@nypost) May 21, 2015
Anna Duggar says she supports Josh Duggar, claiming he confessed his “past teenage mistakes” two years before he proposed to her.
“I can imagine the shock many of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling that same shock,” she says. “When my family and I first visited the Duggar home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes. I was surprised at his openness and humility and at the same time didn’t know why he was sharing it. For Josh, he wanted not just me but my parents to know who he really was–even every difficult past mistakes.”
Josh Duggar claims he is still living with regret over the sexual molestations to this day.
“I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions,” he says. “I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.”
If Josh Duggar molested the older of the four Duggar daughters, that would mean Jana Duggar and Jinger Duggar were molested, in addition to Jill Duggar Dillard and Jessa Duggar Seewald. Do you suppose they are living with regret over what their brother did all those years ago?
Might this disturbing revelation signify the end of 19 Kids and Counting? Will TLC continue producing a show that features an admitted sex offender?
The Duggars released statements regarding the molestation allegations against son Josh http://t.co/NaKemDb84l pic.twitter.com/qESYQ1CxmQ
— TV Guide (@TVGuide) May 21, 2015