Duggar Molestation Controversy

About

The Josh Duggar Molestation Controversy refers to the media and online backlash directed at Josh Duggar and his family after it was revealed that he had molested several young girls, including a few of his sisters, as a teenager.

Background

The Duggar Family

Best known through the TLC cable channel reality TV series 19 Kids and Counting,^[1] the Duggar family consists of father and patriarch Jim Bob Duggar, mother Michelle, and their nineteen children. The family’s members are all devout Christians, following a system of familial organization similar to the ideals of the Quiverfull movement, such as rejection of contraceptives and homeschooling, although they are not officially adherents to the ideology.^[2] The family is politically active, having declared its support for the 2016 Presidential campaign of Republican candidate Mike Huckabee in May 2015.^[3]

Molestation Accusations Against Josh Duggar

On May 21st, 2015, In Touch Magazine published an article^[4] reporting on the contents of a recently revealed 2006 police report, which details how Josh Duggar, the oldest child of the Duggar family, purportedly molested several female minors--several of them relatives--as a teenager.^[5] The report states that Duggar confessed to the molestations to his parents in 2002, but that authorities were not alerted, with his parents choosing to discipline him instead. There were several more incidents throughout 2002 and 2003. Jim Bob discussed the matter with the elders of his church; the information was again not relayed to the police, and Josh Duggar was instead sent to stay with a “family friend” for roughly four months in 2003. In Touch had obtained the report through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Notable Developments

Public Apology and Resignation from FRC

On May 21st, Josh Duggar resigned from his position at the Family Research Council, a Christian conservative and anti-gay marriage lobbying organization.^[6] He had previously been an advocate for anti-LGBT and pro-life politics.

The following day, Duggar posted a public apology for his actions to the family’s official Facebook account. A segment of the post was reprinted by the Huffington Post in its article covering the event.^[5]

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. 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. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.

On May 23rd, Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, whom the Duggar family had endorsed shortly before the controversy, wrote a post in support of Josh Duggar on his Facebook page.^[7]

Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, ‘inexcusable,’ but that doesn’t mean ‘unforgivable.’

Josh Duggar Posing

Shortly after the controversy began, several news and opinion websites and blogs noted Josh Duggar’s political activism, and the fact that he had recently posed with many Republican Presidential candidates and politicians for photo shoots. On May 27th, music and culture website Death and Taxes published an article^[8] titled “8 Photos of Republicans posing with Josh Duggar”, featuring images of people including Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Scott Walker, and Jeb Bush meeting Duggar.

Search Interest

External References