Josh Duggar sued Arkansas DHS to have its investigation records sealed

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In Touch Weekly still has some exclusive reporting from their Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the Arkansas investigation into Josh Duggar. ITW got the ball rolling last week, and it still shocks me to think about how quickly everything moved. In Touch basically summarized a police report about how Josh Duggar was investigated for molesting five children back in 2002-2003. And now every single media outlet is running stories about the creepy Duggars and their creepy cult. TLC still hasn’t officially canceled the show, but advertisers are bailing at a steady clip. So, what else does In Touch have on the Duggars? Just that the 2006 investigation led to some interesting (and horrific) legal wrangling.

In the new issue – on stands now — In Touch reports another bombshell revelation: The Josh Duggar molestation case DID NOT end when Springdale, AR police closed their investigation in 2006 because the statute of limitations had run out. Police referred the matter to the Families in Need of Services agency, which has jurisdiction over minors. The Department of Human Services (DHS) was then brought into the case.

And Nine months after those agencies entered the Duggar molestation case — Josh Duggar SUED the Arkansas Department of Human Services. A trial was held on August 6, 2007.

The results of the investigation into the Duggars and Josh’s trial are sealed. But a source familiar with the Duggar investigation told In Touch it was likely that Josh “appealed the DHS decision or finding from their investigation.” The source notes that DHS had the authority to apply “restrictions or stipulations about him being at home with the victims. Josh would be considered an in-home offender, giving DHS the authority to do an investigation. As part of your appeal rights you can request a DHS hearing to challenge what they found and their ruling.”

The Duggars are refusing to comment on the intervention by either department and Josh’s trial against DHS. They also are refusing to say if their family was monitored by a state agency after the 2007 actions and forced to undergo counseling by a licensed mental health professional.

In Touch broke the story about Josh molesting five victims multiple times during the course of at least two years, exclusively obtaining the Spring Police Department’s report through the Freedom of Information Act.

[From In Touch Weekly]

It’s sort of a fill-in-the-blanks scenario, but I think the gist of the story is that the investigating police officers – realizing that Josh Duggar couldn’t be charged because of the statute of limitations – turned over their investigation to the Department of Human Services. Arkansas DHS ran their own investigation – likely in 2006-07 – and came up with their own report which included some stipulations about what kind of contact Josh Duggar should have with the minor siblings he molested. And Josh appealed the decision and sued to have the DHS files sealed and it worked.

Meanwhile, Defamer unearthed a schadenfreude gem from Jim-Bob Duggar’s failed Senate campaign. While campaigning for a Senate seat in Arkansas in 2002, Jim-Bob explained his position on abortion and ended up saying that rapists and people who commit incest should be punished with the death penalty. 2002 is also the year that Jim-Bob learned that his oldest son was molesting his sisters.

jimbob

Cover courtesy of In Touch Weekly, cached Duggar image courtesy of Defamer, additional photo from Josh Duggar’s social media.

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129 Responses to “Josh Duggar sued Arkansas DHS to have its investigation records sealed”

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  1. Christin says:

    Oh, there is probably much more to be unearthed. Just give it time, and more will come to light.

    • Hautie says:

      If this keeps up… his sisters are going to suffer so much humiliation. More than when it happen.

      It is bad enough that they had to live it the first time. Now the media is getting to drag them threw it all over again.

      They are having to relive it, with every tabloid looking for the gory details. The tabs wants the details. And they are going to get them one way or the other. Even if it means someone gets a handsome cash gift. To pass off a copy of the original file, without all the altering of names.

      I truly feel, that the girls are the ones who are going to end up with the devastated personal lives. Not Josh.

      As much as everyone wants to feel all outraged. Determined to make ole Josh pay for his horrible behavior. Then add in the high so many are getting, from judging the hell out of this zealot lot of bible thumper’s. The sisters are the ones that are going to have to pay the highest price, in the end. And that really isn’t fair.

      • Deedee says:

        But all that goes back to Josh and his parents. They needed to stop it and get professional help for the girls when the first molestation happened.

      • Falula says:

        “More than when it happened.”

        Really.

      • Christin says:

        I have sympathy for all of the true victims (sisters and allegedly one other girl). Yet I hate to see crimes go unpunished, and victims possibly made to feel they were at fault.

        There are probably people who are more than willing to talk, if all of this was suppressed until now. Possibly not even for monetary gain, but to let the world know they tried to help.

      • aang says:

        Yes, the girls are being revictimized. Josh is a criminal, but how to take him down without dragging the girls along with him? Anyone see the clip of Jim Bob talking to Josh about sex when he got engaged? Gross.

      • lucy2 says:

        I do get what you’re saying, but I’m also thinking those girls are so sheltered from the outside world (where they might accidentally have a thought or learn something their parents didn’t teach them), I’m hoping they don’t know the extent of the media coverage. And if they do, I hope somehow they realize that it’s because what their brother did was incredibly wrong, and NOT their fault. I know it’s a long shot, given their upbringing.

      • Pedro45 says:

        No, secrecy and shame are a huge part of this. The girls have nothing to be ashamed of; Josh and their parents do. Ending the secrecy of child sexual abuse can only help the survivors. It’s the lies and the pretense that eat away at you.

      • L&Mmommy says:

        +1000 @ Hautie… The victims seem to be an afterthought a lot of the time in this story. Josh, his parents and his supporters don’t give about damn about the girls. in their mind this pervert is the real the victim here. The victims have also been forgotten by the media and some of the people that Josh has been discriminating against. In an effort to point out this creep’s hypocrisy they have turn the molestetion into vile punch lines and one liners. Molestetion is horrendous and life changing and I’m so very sorry that these girls keep getting victimized over and over again.

      • zimmer says:

        @Lucy 2. I think Jill and Jessa now have access to full media coverage since they’ve married. I may be wrong. I think it looks like both were victims.

      • Wonderbunny says:

        I completely agree with @Pedro45. Shedding light onto things is painful at first, but if we don’t, these things will continue to happen in secrecy and the victims will continue to blame themselves.

      • Katey says:

        Luckily for most of them, they don’t have access to the media, TV, or internet, so it must not be so bad. Thank Jeebus for controlling culty parents, eh?

      • belle de jour says:

        +1000, Pedro45 and wonderbunny.

        This is not how the hell starts (that already happened); this is how you damn the devil vs. the victims, and this is how those consigned to that hell can begin to heal in the antiseptic light of truth vs. the shadow of silence and shame.

      • Ava says:

        While I understand when you are saying they shouldn’t have to be humiliated. They are the victims and have done nothing wrong. We need to live in a society where the victims feel it is ok to come forward and report this crime. They have nothing to be ashamed of. Every victim of this crime should be able to tell their story without shame. Not talking about this crime makes the victim feel that are hiding something bad about themselves. I hope these girls get help and never ever feel shame.

      • BRE says:

        I agree with what your saying but they have been victimized over and over again by their parents for allowing Josh to be near them. Honestly, I’m hoping all of this media coverage will finally show these girls that they were victims and that what happened to them was in no way their fault. I think if it had been kept hidden they would have continued to believe that and raised their children in such a manner as their parents.

      • holly hobby says:

        Well here’s the first question, do these girls deserve to be victimized in the first place? I’m sorry but I don’t believe Jim Boob and Me-shell and their devil’s spawn should get away with it.

      • K says:

        It is horrible that the girls are being revictimised. But if the Duggars hadn’t shilled themselves as the perfect family, and the apogee of what we all should aspire to, while raking in millions on reality television, then there wouldn’t be public interest (and interest from the public) in the story. They are politically and socially campaigning – that Robocall – so the hypocrisy needs addressing. It’s awful that the publicity also hits those girls, but they are famous in their turn because their parents sought fame, despite this scandal being in existence at the time it started.

        And if you had children who might ever have a sleepover in a home with Josh Duggar – his own, his siblings’ – wouldn’t you like to know about this story? One of his known victims was apparently unrelated. I bet her parents would have appreciated a headsup. No? And what if there are other victims, who will come forward now?

    • Hawkeye says:

      Yup. Very often, what’s first reported is the tip of the iceberg.

    • cindyp says:

      Sorry, have to disagree. The media is doing it’s job. It’s the parents that didn’t protect their daughters & made the decision to exploit their family as public figures with their stupid TV show.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        I agree, cindyp. Also, we don’t know that these 5 were the ONLY victims. There might be more from the past, there might be more currently. Clearly the steps taken by the parents didn’t keep this horrible abuse from repeatedly happening. Bigger steps now need to be taken to protect children around this man.

      • Kitten says:

        Yup. +1 to both of you.

        People don’t seem to understand that child molesters cannot be “cured”, the most they can do is try to control their urges.
        This man will forever be a danger and more past/future victims could be out there.

      • aang says:

        It is the media’s job to report that it happened and what the law enforcement response was. To speculate about which sisters, and about where he touched them, were they asleep or awake and the other details? No. If the girls want to talk about it then fine, the story of what exactly happened belongs to them. Until then we are abusing them all over again by creating scenarios about what we think did or did not happen. Even discussing the sordid details in the police report is gross to me. Is it not enough that we know he did it? Must we know exactly how?

      • Tiffany :) says:

        ” To speculate about which sisters, and about where he touched them, were they asleep or awake and the other details?… Until then we are abusing them all over again by creating scenarios about what we think did or did not happen”

        Sorry, I am not a part of that “we”. I haven’t seen such speculation on the news programs that I have seen.

        What I have seen discussed, which I think is actually needed, is the fact that he was repeatedly committing this crime and then being placed back in the home with potential victims. THAT is a legitimate discussion that needs to take place. How can a family know about a predator, and then continue to give him access to potential victims when he has repeatedly shown that he can’t be trusted? What can be done to prevent this from happening in other homes?

      • aang says:

        Tiffany I wasn’t aiming the comment at you or anyone specific. If you look down a bit farther you will see names of victims guessed at. And if you look into the archives at the first or second story on this topic you will see the gory details spelled out as well as speculation.

      • Wonderbunny says:

        @aang: I’m not in the US, so I haven’t followed any news about this case over there and how it’s been presented. However, I do think it is important to report the ages of the victims and what’s been done. Not because people need to have intimate details, but because there’s a huge variety of what could’ve happened that would fall under “underage molestation”.

        I’ve seen someone defend him based on the assumption that he simply accidentally stumbled into a same aged sister’s bedroom and that had been seen as a big no-no because of their strict rules. Looking at things like that, it would be very easy to just brush the whole thing off and say that teenage boys make mistakes and let’s just move on. It’s just completely different from the fact that he fondled a 4-year old and yes, that’s a really uncomfortable thought, but it has to be addressed. Since it’s something that the society has deemed unacceptable, it’s the job of the society to try to prevent such things from happening.

    • Pinky says:

      It’s time for all the execs at TLC to get fired, and for the FCC to fine and pull the network off the air until they regroup and rebrand. Enough of this BS. TLC KNEW about the Mama June situation (it took TMZ breaking the story for them to react) and they KNEW about Josh Duggaring his little sisters–they chose to keep it hidden so they could make their billions. Well, now they should be forced to give those billions back.

      • JennaR says:

        The only show I can still watch on that channel is The Little Couple, and my cynicism has taken over so I’m just waiting to hear something horrible about them too.

  2. ojulia123 says:

    I just feel so sorry for the victims.

    • FLORC says:

      Yup.

    • Liberty says:

      yes, and any potential future victims, if they don’t address this guy’s issues.

    • K says:

      I remember something weird – when Jessa married, Josh only just made it with minutes to spare, while his wife and kids flew in earlier and separately, because the official story was he had some essential meeting. And Michelle Duggar blithely said, oh yes but we have such a huge family that inevitably some weddings not all the kids will be able to attend… and I was so thrown by that, because in a normal family, siblings show up at a conventional church wedding, with months of prior notice. Meetings can be rescheduled. And this is supposed to be the Fundie Von Trapps, and a covenant wedding for them – a religious occasion for this God-obsessed group, with their TV show relying on a show of family unity – is a maybe deal? That was just nonsensical. Of course you’d expect them to show up. Yet he almost didn’t, and his mother was stating that she didn’t expect them to all be at every future wedding.

      Makes me wonder if Jessa’s husband didn’t want the shit there at all – or Jessa didn’t. And Michelle suspected that one of the younger victims might put her foot down, or a future spouse might. Who knows. But it was genuinely weird enough that I went, Huh, at the time.

      • Hazel says:

        You make a very good point. And he’s the one who designed the invitations, so he certainly knew the date well in advance.

  3. snowflake says:

    bye bye duggars!

    • PhenomenalWoman says:

      Why hasn’t the show been canceled yet?? I hear advertisers are leaving in droves, so why is TLC still sitting on the cancellation?

    • Lizzy says:

      Not a fan of the show (so cancellation would be fine), but why should they lose their show while admitted creepy sister-toucher Lena Dunham stays on the air?

      • msw says:

        I don’t have feelings about Dunham one way or the other – I’ve never seen anything she is in and barely have any knowledge of her, apart from a lot of people hate her – but there is a HUGE world of difference between the two scenarios and I’m getting a bit upset by people equating them. One was a 7 year old kid looking at her 1 year old sister’s body out of curiosity for like, a second. The other was a teenager going after not one, but five, children, most likely premeditated since he did it more than once, presumably for sexual pleasure, since he did it more than once. THAT behavior is predatory and not at all the same thing as body curiosity. People really can’t see the difference?

  4. Livealot says:

    Lmaooo. I’m sorry but I just skipped the whole article because that title “house of horrors” is just too perfect.

    • GingerCrunch says:

      IKR? It’s like Christmas in May!!! I’m doin a little happy dance cuz that magazine cover makes up for all the previously fawning ones on this complete freak show. Ha. HA!

  5. Kiki says:

    These are a bunch of hypocriptical creeps. The show shoud be canceled completely.

  6. kri says:

    Ugh. This is not a religion-it’s a cult. Extremism is so dangerous, whether it’s Christian offshoots like this, Boko Haram or what have you. And they all have one thing in common-heinous treatment of women. They need to be off the air.

    • PunkyMomma says:

      You nailed it, kri. It’s the subjugation of women, the abuse of women and children, all in the guise of righteous entitlement.

    • jen2 says:

      I so agree. Nothing about the real victims of this mess because they are girls. It is clear that women have one purpose to this group and that is to re-produce…not think, be individual or have any type of freedom. Being molested is a “mistake” to them, not a crime, which it really is. As much as I hate InTouch, I hope they keep digging with this and stick to the truth, not their usual made up crap. But since they have such a shady reputation (well deserved I might add), some of the information might get dismissed. The father is the one that really belongs in prison and his subjugated wife should go with him. Bottom line is they are horrid parents.

      This is a cash cow for TLC and it will take a lot for them to give it up. Hopefully, the advertisers will keep leaving, as it will only change when it hits them in the pocket book.

    • NorthernGirl_20 says:

      Yes! That is exactly what I was going to say.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I wonder if the directors of the Co$ documentary are looking for new subject matter? These evils need to be exposed.

    • mtngirl says:

      Well said Kri. Females are second class, and males are taught they are too stupid to keep their trouser snake put away any time they are “tempted”. Ugh.

  7. Lilacflowers says:

    Was there an actual decision on the appeal or did the Huckabee agree to settlement? The latter appears likely, especially given his strong support.

  8. Nicolette says:

    I didn’t know there was a statute of limitations with molestation, and I’m surprised to hear that given that some victims bury the attacks in their subconscious for years. Therapy for other issues often brings out the horrific memories they’ve suppressed. Considering the detrimental effects the abuse can have there shouldn’t be a time limit on punishing these predators.

    • Lucinda says:

      The fact that Josh was a minor when this occurred I’m sure was a big factor in the statute of limitations. As for DHS, in our state, DHS getting involved is not a criminal matter so they have different authority than the police. Regardless, they still have to be able to prove their allegations. Many families simply agree with the allegations and do what DHS says so they can get their kids back faster. It sounds like Josh chose to force DHS to go to trial and DHS was not able to prove the allegations enough for the judge to give DHS jurisdiction over the family. Again, because he was a minor, that is probably why the records were then sealed. So even though Josh has now publicly admitted to molesting the girls, at the time he was unwilling to do so and most likely his sisters did not help DHS at all with the investigation. Too bad. 🙁

      • Lilacflowers says:

        It sounds to me that the agency made its findings, the Duggars appealed on Josh’s behalf (a parent has to file on a minor’s behalf), and Jim-Bob called on his political connection with Huckabee to agree to a settlement stipulation that a judge then confirmed

    • Ava says:

      It depends on the state. I believe the laws should be more uniform. Here is a link and by state crime. It largely depends on the age of victim and type. In some states there is NO statue of limitations. https://www.rainn.org/public-policy/laws-in-your-state

    • byland says:

      In Texas the statue of limitations is a certain amount of years after the victim first tells anyone about the crime. I don’t recall the exact number, but I believe my case now lies outside of it. I had no intention of prosecuting simply because I had no desire to ever see those people again. There is no evidence other than my word against his, so that’s an uphill battle I have no wish to fight.

  9. Anastasia says:

    I always–ALWAYS–felt there was something creepy going on with this family. I know that’s easy to say now, but I really did. I figured it was going to be something like the mom is constantly on tranquilizers or something sexually weird or immoral.

    There was just no way a family could be that into the “teachings” of a sick extremist cult and that cut off from the world and NOT have some sick shit going on.

    I can only hope his victims really do come forward. It says so on the magazine cover, but did they really? Perhaps girls from another family?

    • FingerBinger says:

      I always felt something creepy going on with this family too. Not the molestion accusations but I knew something wasn’t right with them.

    • littlestar says:

      The father has always given me a case of the willies. There is something very very off about him.

    • kcarp says:

      Funny you say this I texted my mom when this came out and said what did I say about the Duggars? She said, you said they were perverts. I told you.

      I mean the episode where the dad is dry humping on the mom at miniature golf course leads you to think these people are all about sex.

  10. OriginalTessa says:

    This all makes me sick to my stomach. Someone, save the Duggar girls! Please? Poor things don’t have a chance.

  11. Jackson says:

    Yeah sure, Jim-Bob. Either the death penalty or, you know, four months renovating a building. Either way.
    I’m so glad this twisted family is getting this kind of scrutiny now. If enough big advertisers bail then TLC will be hard-pressed to keep them on the air. Hopefully.

  12. aims says:

    I can’t with this family. They’re so sick that it’s exhausting. The depths of their extremism, hypocrisy and suppression is disturbing. They are so crazy that I’m lifting my hands in the air and I’m out. My sympathy to the girls in the family.

  13. Senaber says:

    Ugh yall should see my Facebook feed. Grown women and men with daughters defending this pedo-cub and still preaching “modesty is for girls” and general ignorance when it comes to teaching kids about sexuality. I hope this cult continues to go down and go down hard, but I’m afraid that the harm is already done by giving these freaks a platform.

    And there is no way TLC did not know about this. Boycott TLC.

    • Talie says:

      This is why I can’t be social media friends with people I grew up with. Between this freak show family and the Obama hate.

    • joy says:

      I’ve been deleting people left and right who show him any sympathy. He was and is a predator.

      • Jayna says:

        I’ve seen posts on sites defending them with we’ve all played doctor. Don’t pretend you didn’t have sexual thoughts at 14. What does that have to do with groping your very young siblings against their will? Mind-boggling.

    • Algernon says:

      TLC knew! OPRAH told them! Oprah was going to do some special with Duggars that she canceled the day it was supposed to tape because her company got a tip about the abuse. She reported it to authorities and passed it on TLC. They absolutely knew, and did nothing because they were making money on this freak show.

    • PennyLane says:

      Agreed – there is *no way* that the network was unaware of these allegations. They have a lot of questions to answer, like why did you let these hypocritical pedophile scumbags stay on the air for so many years.

      How is it possible that Oprah’s people found out about it within a week back in 2006, and yet over the course of ten years (!) the people at TLC never heard anything? Anything at all? Come on!

      To quote Judge Judy on this one, “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.” The people at TLC knew. They totally knew.

      • Anon says:

        TLC-Discovery Network-OWN- NBC (where all the TLC reality so called stars go on morning shows to get fawned over and rumors glossed over…Kate Gosselin anyone?) …they all knew. It is all about ratings, greed…and fame.

        At least Oprah denied showing and took action. It was hushed up by the rest.

      • Liberty says:

        this, all day.

    • Erinn says:

      I hate to say, I finally bit, and had to comment on one today. They were pulling the “To all the Josh Dugger haters – everyone has hurt someone. You shouldn’t have to pay for your mistakes for the rest of your life. sometimes good people do bad things”

      to which I laid out the facts of the case, and let him know that I’m not a Dugger hater – I’m a pedophile/molester hater, and a ‘parents-who-hurt-their-other-children-to-protect-the-molester hater” and that me telling a while lie or being a bit blunt with someone is in now way comparable to someone being a repeat sexual offender.

      The issue is – the super ‘passionate’ religious people think this is an attack on religion – because apparently EVERYTHING is. So they’ll defend him. Mind you, this same man was horrified that a book about a gay teen made it onto some kind of Canada youth book award list because it’s just so horrible to push the gay agenda.

      • zimmer says:

        I am absolutely disgusted with Josh and what he did, but even more with his parents, because quite honestly if they had not repressed their children in such a ridiculous way, while at the same time making out in their faces constantly, Josh might not have gone to such extremes. I think their actions created a molester and perhaps he was also abused. That does not mean I support him (I don’t), I just think even more blame should be cast in the parents who taught their own perverted ideas and hypocrosy.

    • kcarp says:

      Who are these people? I live deep in the heart of Conservative Texas and no one I know thinks this is ok. No one is defending him. Everyone I know is like WTF.

    • delphi says:

      And what’s worse? According to spec scheduling guides my dad sussed out (yay for him being in the “evil, liberal media”), TLC has the Duggars back on their daily broadcast schedule in 2 weeks.

      So they want to play it this way? Thinking the standard 2 week news cycle will blow over on this? Collective outrage needs to grow…hopefully sooner rather than later. Rational people need to drown out the loonies.

      Plus, this monstrosity of a show is still available on TLC’s Video On Demand service. Ick.

  14. Talie says:

    TLC still not willing to pull the trigger yet — interesting. Tick-tock…

  15. Jayna says:

    Michelle always talks a lot about submitting to your husband, having sex whenever he wants it.
    I always get the feeling all the years the kids grew up in the very small home, all crammed in bedrooms together, before the show and the big home, that they laid there having to suffer through listening to mom and dad going at it all the time through paper thin walls and Jim Bob and Michelle not even trying to muffle the sounds.

    I find Jim Bob so creepy.

    • Patricia says:

      This is anecdotal but:
      I once dated a man who came from a born again, extremely religious family who made sex out to be a huge sin. Well, his parents always had incredibly loud and inappropriate sex, his whole life. I even heard it. They would go upstairs and do it when they knew I was in the house visiting. It was so bizarre, given the fact that they were so strict they were even against masturbation. Really sick.

      Then there’s my own family. Not religious, very open about healthy sexuality, never shamed us for being sexual, normal human beings. And I never once heard or experienced my parents’ sex life.

      Like I said, anecdotal. But I just think that these families who are so suppressive with their children are also obsessed with their own sex life and the fact that they are “allowed” the pleasure of sex, and they seem to want their children to know about it.

      • Wren33 says:

        I just can’t imagine growing up being constantly told that your body and sexuality is shameful and dirty and constantly being praised for your purity, and then having to flip that switch once you are married. I feel like there must be a lot of issues going on, but maybe the married couples get off on that.

      • Anon says:

        The Duggars were laughing how the husband needed to “pound” on the cervix to get soft and ready to open up for childbirth…they talk like this on national TV and in front of their kids. But, yet constantly preach to their kids that the girls are at fault for showing any flesh because the boys cannot be trusted to control themselves.
        If they spent more time raising their kids and less time worrying about making the next one (and talking about those details) while passing off the previous one to the sibling ‘buddy’… perhaps 5 girls wouldn’t have been molested.

      • Cindy says:

        @anon
        “pounding on the cervix to make it soft”?????
        Tell me you are joking. I feel like vomiting. Reading about he Duggars is traumatizing. The world is such a sick place and I am glad I never watched this piece of crap show. I have heard Michelle duggar talk however, and I swear if I ever hear her weird breathy/baby voice giggle again I’m gonna scream.

        TLC is disgusting.

    • Dez says:

      I doubt mrs Duggar has ever had an orgasm…since she’s there to please bob, not herself.

  16. jamrock says:

    Somebody should start a campaign called save the #duggargirls

  17. Size Does Matter says:

    I know so many women who have been taken advantage of when their consciousness was impaired – drunk, drugged, asleep, minors, adults, you name it. Just awful, but children? And incest? Come on, TLC. The Duggar situation is abominable enough as is, but if these victims are forced to issue statements as an effort to save the family’s livelihood, I don’t know what I will do.

    • Christin says:

      Keeping the gravy train rolling is probably still the top priority. If people don’t keep pointing out how horribly wrong and hypocritical this is, then it could be setting the stage for a ‘family healing’ storyline.

  18. jwoolman says:

    Josh’s political ambitions and his family’s cash cow are shot, plus his marriage might now be on shakey ground. Basically, his fears that continuing such behavior would ruin his life have come true. Prison is not the only way to punish, if you’re worried that he has been unpunished. I don’t know why people have such great faith in the prison system (or the foster care system, judging from cries to take kids away from parents at the drop of a tabloid hat).

    Even though the reports were sealed (not an unusual request), it is very possible that the limits on Josh’s contact with his sisters may have been implemented even if informally within the family. The really important thing is to keep Josh from having unsupervised contact with children, including his own, and to encourage serious ongoing therapy for him as well as what is needed for the girls and his wife. His wife is in an especially difficult position and will need help protecting her children. She especially needs to understand the risks if Josh remains with her. Even if he is convinced he’s “cured”, the nature of the disorder means risk of reversion to the old behavior. Kind of like alcoholism, not wise to keep a liquor cabinet in the house of a recovering alcoholic.

    The sad thing is that their religion has very likely blocked access to help. Will it continue to do so? Don’t know. People closer in religious framework to the Duggars really need to be the ones to have an impact, and maybe they will, given time. But there is absolutely no reason for them to listen to people who openly hate them and their religion and everything about them. They need people who can speak their language. The Duggar parentals weren’t born into their rigid framework but gradually took it on in response to life events. Their aversion to birth control seems to be a response to a miscarriage, they decided it was linked to previous use of such measures. Josh’s actions as a young teenager may very well have formed that framework more than we realize, as a protective response to prevent recurrence. The odd bunch they ended up following are not the only Christians around. If the Duggars had become influenced by other types of Christians at various points of their lives, their story would have unfolded very differently. Of course, then it wouldn’t have made them interesting to TLC and we wouldn’t even know about them.

    • lucy2 says:

      “Josh’s political ambitions are shot” Thank goodness for that. He was clearly angling for that, given all the photos of him with far right politicians.

      • jwoolman says:

        And he is likely to take a few of them down with him… 🙂 Silver lining.

    • Lara Morgana says:

      Anna will never leave him. She is so in love with him and I always had the feeling that he just tolerated her. Poor girl…

      • jwoolman says:

        I really hope somebody with sufficient Christian credentials can help her deal constructively with all this. So difficult when she’s been so isolated.

  19. Tig says:

    Speculating here- CPS in Arkansas investigated, found more likely than not abuse occurred, but didn’t take case to court bec the perp(Josh) was a minor- he’s not a parent/in loco parentis of any of his victims. The part that’s a bit screwy( out of many) is per this article, Josh sued. If he sued, that implies that the CPS case was founded against him, as opposed to his parents being investigated for neglect/lack of supervision. Not familiar with Ark law at all, so its statutes may vary from others.

  20. DenG says:

    I do some eye-rolling when I see comments about modesty from Michelle and a few of the daughters. Immodest clothing and inappropriate reading material may give rise to “desires that can’t be righteously fulfilled”. I also wonder about Josh marrying a woman who looks strikingly similar to his eldest sisters and mother.

    • kcarp says:

      They talk modesty but they can give birth in various bathtubs, toilets, and hospitals on camera.

  21. original kay says:

    All religions are cults. Any organization that is set up to control members, through specific readings, have the potential to exploit members, to control them, to cause undue harm.

    And cause harm religion does, every day. The religious beliefs of the Duggars are no different than any other religion. They control, repress, hide abuse, use fear to manipulate.

    I read this, on BBC World. It’s from the Vatican, regarding the vote for same sex marriage in Ireland.
    ‘A landmark vote to allow same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland was a “defeat for humanity”, a senior Vatican official has said.’

    The world is a mess. It didn’t start and end with the Duggars. Paedophiles have long been hidden in the catholic church, protected, yet on this very site people write how they adore the pope.

    I’ll say it again- there are no grey areas with regard to child abuse. None.

    Better laws, more public outcry. Protect the victims.

    • PhenomenalWoman says:

      You in danger, girl! 🙂 But I agree. A lot of religions and religious dogma were implemented to control. After growing up Catholic, I’m now an agnostic, for just the reasons you mentioned.

      • original kay says:

        Yes, I know 🙂

        It’s not an uncommon occurrence for me here though!

        Thanks for your reply 🙂

    • Betsy says:

      No, not all religions are cults. For example, there’s a breathtaking gulf between these
      Quiverfull cultists and, say, Methodists. This kind of hyperbole doesn’t serve any purpose.

      • original kay says:

        actually, it does serve a purpose. Action in the name of religion is destroying our world.

        There are differences in theory, yes, between religions. Thus the reason our world is systematically being destroyed.

        however, at the crux of it, we have people who come together to worship- who are told when to worship, what to worship, how to worship. They are given books and literature, attend classes, to further the teachings, for that religion. They are taught if they don’t follow, bad things happen. Sins. God will punish you, you wont go to heaven, eternal purgatory, whatever the religion tells you so you keep coming back, you keep tithing.

        if god is all powerful, all knowing, all forgiving, why do we need organized religion in his name? why do we need conduits to him, through priests or nuns, or reverends, ministers? He’s here, in us, in everything.

        we don’t. we don’t need it. we don’t need ordinary people telling us that in order to be with god, we have to do what they say.

        but we do, they got us. badly, as people will kill, murder, to further their religion.

        Cult.

  22. INeedANap says:

    I do and don’t want to know what else was concealed in that report.

    And I hope CPS or something similar starts getting involved with the rest of these nutjob Quiverfull families. Clearly this issue is endemic to their teachings.

  23. Jayna says:

    Josh really thought he was going to happen in politics. He made no bones about it. He’s lost his lobbying job. I wonder what will happen now. Go back to his used tiny car lot? Become a minster? He has no higher education.

    They have a state tax lien against he and his wife that they’ve never paid which covers several years. They said they took care of it, but someone published records showing it still wasn’t taken care of.

    • PortlandJan says:

      Actually, they DID pay the lien in full, about 2 weeks ago, per the “Pickles and Hairspray” facebook page. Which in turn convinces me that Josh and family had already had some kind of heads-up about the In-Touch article that long ago.

      • Lucky Charm says:

        Hmmm….That could explain the cryptic messages Josh and Anna posted on Instagram about forgiveness and doing the right thing regardless of the consequences, days before this all became public.

  24. Lara Morgana says:

    I have a strong suspicion that if anyone did any digging they would find that Josh probably had a woman or two on the side when he lived in D.C. I’m just waiting for that story to break.

    • NewWester says:

      I think the tabloids are in a feeding frenzy now and are probably looking for more dirt( or found some already) This is going to get much worse for that family

    • Christin says:

      My guess is that both parents will be fair game as well. There could be some previously suppressed dirt (not just relationship wise, but financial, etc.).

      I recall stories from years ago outlining how they really were not this modest means family at all (both did commercial wheeling and dealing).

      • K says:

        Someone on the Pickles Facebook page checked debt records, and contra their much quoted “debt free living” they had debts logged against their names.

        He also spent $250,000 of family money on that political campaign back in 2002. So they really were of modest means when it came to housing, feeding and clothing all those kids. They were spending the necessary $ on a vanity campaign for Pop.

      • Lucky Charm says:

        I recall hearing that they were receiving anonymous donations of food and clothing dropped on their porch because they didn’t have any money. Then suddenly their new house is finished and furnished, complete with a professional interior decorator.

  25. rianic says:

    My husband and I were talking, and I told him to put himself in Derrick and Ben’s shoes. Could you imagine hanging out with the guy who molested your wife as a child? Wondering of they knew.

    Also, if I remember correctly, he first touched while the victims were sleeping, but later (I got this from the police report), he tried to pull one’s pants down while they read a book together. To me, that shows progression

    • DenG says:

      Yes, I’ve been wondering when Derrick and Ben would chime in because they were so adamant about purity and no physical intimacy before marriage. Unless they just wanted to have a stake in the Duggar dynasty and get their own shows.

    • Iheartgossip says:

      Honestly, his own daughters should be checked for sexual abuse. And, makes me believe his wife was molested, or will pull a Bad Momma June and enable him to molest more. Cause he hasn’t stopped; he’s just stopped being caught / reported.

  26. rianic says:

    I also wonder how many of their crazy modesty and chastity rules are because of Josh – to “prevent temptation.”

    • Hazel says:

      I wondered about that, too. It might explain why the littlest girls wore leggings & dresses to bed on a sleepover at auntie Jill’s.

  27. Iheartgossip says:

    Well. Well. Well. Who knew the Dugger Family would put such a sink hole in the repub ticket line up.

  28. Mrs.Krabapple says:

    Their family life is their business, literally. They make money off of having babies and exploiting their kids. There is NO WAY they were ever going to put that money at risk simply to keep a couple of girls safe. TLC enabled this type of abuse of children. Shame on all of them. Too bad nobody involved will likely see any jail time.

  29. HeatherAnn says:

    My sister is a therapist and she just made the point that she has never seen a teenage abuser who hasn’t himself been abused. The rabbit hole here goes deep. Whatever you think about religion, this family’s extreme lifestyle should not be admired.

    • jwoolman says:

      What does she say about the prospects for the abuser to recover? What kind of treatment does she recommend? Is there a difference with early intervention, while the brain is still developing? Impulse control especially can take a long time to develop, especially in males, so I imagine that’s part of it.

  30. Lurker says:

    I am sure someone has said on one of these threads, but a kid doesn’t (usually) become a molester in a vacuum. In many, many cases, the perpetrator has often been a victim first.

    *all eyes turn to JimBob and Michelle*

    There’s no way that this story is over. It’s just beginning.

    • Ava says:

      I just want to add to your comment that the vast majority of victims of abuse would NEVER abuse or hurt a child. Let’s not add to an already horrible story. Even if he was or is in that situation that is never a defense. Most child molester are thought to have parts of the brain that are different than a “normal” brain. Also remember, not every pedophile acts on these impulses.
      I have worked in therapy for victims for many years and most of the pedophiles had no childhood trauma to explain their actions. The point I am trying to make is that generalizing is generally not a good idea. I think it is best to keep the focus on helping the victims. Here is a resource list for help if anyone has been dealing with abuse, has questions or prevention help.
      http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pages/resources.html#web_resources

      • Lurker says:

        OMG, I am not defending the guy at all, or implying that all victims become perpetrators. I am simply stating that I think there’s way more going on here. WAY MORE. My guess is that sexual abuse has run rampant in their family and their cult lifestyle, and this is just the beginning. And I think that Josh may have been a victim himself (no defense for it but if he is a victim, he needs help too not just prosecution).

    • nicegirl says:

      HeatherAnn: Although your sister the therapist has ‘never’ known of a teenaged incest offender who was not molested, many of the rest of us HAVE known such beasts.

      Unfortunately, they EXIST. My own brother is one of them.

      Also true, I have never (personally, that I know of) met an incest victim that has ever ‘progressed’ into a perpetrator. Just my experience (although I have A LOT of it).

      Blessings to the Duggar girls, and all victims.

      • snowflake says:

        so sorry you had to experience that…

      • Ava says:

        @nicegirl I am so sorry for what happen to you. I also agree with your statements. I think what many people don’t realize is these type of crimes take away something from the victims that can NEVER be replaced. All victims of this type of crime are in my thoughts daily. This type of story is an emotional trigger for so many people. My hope is we can change things for our children. In schools they talk to children in 1st grade. Prevention is so important. Stay strong nicegirl! I use the word victim, but a better word is strong and surviver. I hope you are doing well.

  31. v. says:

    I don’t want everyone to forget about the other young children still in this family who are going to also be hurt and traumatized by all this publicity and scorn. I feel bad for them, they didn’t ask to be born into the Duggar litter. I also feel terrible for Josh’s kids, they will always have his scarlett letter following them. No playdates at the Duggar house.

    So many childhoods ruined. Josh was 14, and while a minor….he was more than old enough to understand right from wrong. So I won’t excuse his behavior at all.

    As for the parents aside from their awful fundmentalist beliefs, I can’t imagine finding out your child, that you love has been sexually preying on your other children….had to have been horrible and confusing. We need to show compassion. Incest happens in all kinds of families not just those in cults. It could be the family next door…lets try examining this from that perspective.

    • Mary says:

      “No playdates at the Dugger house” …yep. That’s right.

      Im editing to add that if my daughter was a school friend of one of the Duggar girls, I would have no reason for discomfort. But having a play date at their house? Nope, not going to happen.

  32. Tiffany says:

    I know that In Touch gets a lot of flack for being them, but I do want to give them a BRAVO. There might have been stories but they got the ball rolling in a big way. PEOPLE and US WEEKLY really are low tier with this story as they should be.

    • Lucky Charm says:

      I haven’t seen it addressed anywhere, but WHY did InTouch (how ironic is that magazine name!) break this story in the first place? I mean, what prompted them to use the FOIA to get a copy of the (now destroyed) police report now?

  33. Kiddo says:

    Kaiser, there is an article up on Salon today which lists the other networks owned by TLC, such as the Oprah Winfrey Network, Investigation Discovery and the Discovery Channel. The question the author of the article poses is will TLC kill the cash cow Duggar show if it only makes people who don’t watch it happy, but it otherwise brings in a lot of cash from those who it does make happy.

    Here’s my idea for a better plan of boycott, STOP watching the other networks that they own. Put pressure on the advertisers of all of TLC’s offshoots. Put pressure on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Considering that Oprah’s producers knew about these circumstances, reported them, but have remained RIDICULOUSLY quiet about this subject since it has blown wide open, seems to imply that they want to distance themselves for their own profit. It’s not their fault, of course, but Oprah has consistently been a very prominent voice for political positions over the years and her silence on the subject is now deafening when it comes to a situation that hits very close to home economically.

    Just some thoughts, thought maybe you might want to do an article or something.