Sex Abuse Victim Allegedly Filing Lawsuit Against Josh Duggar
By R.L. Stollar, HA Community Coordinator
By now, nearly everyone with access to the Internet has likely heard of the Duggar family tragedy. At least five young girls were allegedly molested by Josh Duggar, the oldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, stars of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting. The family waited several years to report the crimes. When they finally did so, they only told a police officer who was a family friend, who himself was later convicted of child pornography.
A new report today by InTouch Weekly reveals that one of Josh Duggar’s alleged victims is preparing to file a lawsuit against him. The report says,
A non-Duggar family molestation victim is preparing to file a civil suit against Josh Duggar, sources tell In Touch magazine exclusively in the new issue on newsstands today.
The shocking development means that Josh and his parents Jim Bob and Michelle could be forced to give depositions and testify about Josh’s molestation scandal. The Duggars likely will have to answer every question as they will not be able to invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination because the criminal statute of limitations has expired.
While I would not normally feel comfortable citing from a gossip magazine, InTouch Weekly has led the investigative journalism charge on the Duggar tragedy. The information they have uncovered on this issue has thus far been credible.
For further reading:
- What You Need to Know About the Josh Duggar Police Report
- Gothard’s ATI and the Duggar Family’s Secrets
- Why Dan Savage’s Call to Redefine “Duggar” Will Only Further Hurt Josh Duggar’s Victims
- It’s Not Just the Duggars
- How I Would’ve Responded as a Parent to the Josh Duggar Sexual Abuse Scenario
- How to Respond to Sibling Abuse as a Parent or Caretaker
- Responding to Sibling Sexual Abuse: What to Do and Why
Homeschoolers Anonymous 
Wasn’t this man a child when he committed these crimes? Didn’t he come forward about his sickness? Hasn’t he since turned his life around? I understand why mainstream media continues to cover the issues, but you – not so sure. Just saying!
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. – 1 Corinthians 8:9
Spoken as a Duggar supporter, including the Bible Verse and its Zip Code at the end.
I don’t know the Duggar family other than what I read. I just noticed the author has written quite a number of articles on this issue and it appears the site has reference to Christianity. 🙂
Justice has been a long time coming, but apparently it’s finally coming. The victims deserve the justice and legal reparation!
xyssyalex, would it be an accurate statement that you have been led to believe (like the Duggars) that:
1) Christianity gives men a free pass to abuse others, as long as they make a show of repenting (which means they can do whatever they want, as much as they want, as long as they say the right stuff aftwerwards)
2) You, as well as the Duggars, believe that because you are a woman, you do not deserve justice for a matter of this magnitude?
You deserve better than to believe you are unworthy of justice. Likewise for the victims. You and they are as much human as a man is, and equally deserving of…not only justice, but a future, and an education, a future of your choice, and everything that comes with being fully human.
@Jemima, 1, No – it would not be an accurate statement that I believe any of the things you said. I am all for the mainstream media getting justice for the victims. My only interest is seeing a Christian site like this – on a number of occasions, writing a number of articles on such a person that lean toward taking a pound of flesh. We have to be careful we don’t push a person to hurt themselves or to become ill – again. If the author does not believe she is taking a pound of flesh then I guess when she comes online she’ll put me (and anyone else wondering the same thing) right. Maybe the author has personal reasons for homing in on this issue, that would also be a fair response to me. My comment is just my opinion. It is just an opinion for the purpose of debate but also a possible pause for thought – if necessary. As a Christian I would expect to be challenged if someone wonders if I am overdoing it. In addition and having said that, I do not think the author is bullying the man in question, I was just drawing my opinions on the basis of balance and fairness. Hopefully the author will understand in the spirit I commented.
2. This man was not a man at the time of his offences, he appeared to be a mentally disturbed boy who was not getting the help he needed by the adults involved in the situation. I read that this boy raised these issues with his parents ‘crying for help.’ I read his parents made efforts to get him treated. All this informs my understanding of the case and my reasons (along with saying the previous statements) for saying what I said.
3. I do not believe that Christianity gives men a free pass to abuse others, as long as they make a show of repenting (which means they can do whatever they want, as long as they say the right stuff afterwards). In terms of Christian men abusing women, that’s an entirely separate issue altogether, and nothing to do with this case. Nothing I said suggested any of the thoughts you expressed. I condemn any Christian man that behaves in such a way toward women, children and even a Christian man lacking in empathy and using the Bible to hide behind as they misquote and translate as they see fit – none of that is acceptable to me. That for me – is religious extremism. The Christian faith values are about love and not abuse. Absolutely nowhere in Christianity does it state that Christianity is for anything doing evil – I’m just making that point clear for you since you have tied me to suggestions that I might believe this and that. I hope I cleared my position up for you though. Without prejudice to you 🙂
He was a teenager abusing pre-teenager and pre-pubescent children. He received no real counselling dealing specifically with sexual abuse and molestation, and apparently he was let off the hook after enough years had passed without further complaints from the original victims who knew they would never get things to change.
Child? No.
“Turned his life around?” I’d like to see proof.
Came forward? Yeah, over 10 years later when he was publicly outed.
But then again, his parents were the ones on national television excusing him for an hour and a half. So he never really came forward at all. Just hid behind mommy and daddy’s legs.
Just because he was a minor (teen, not child), came forward and (supposedly) turned his life around doesn’t mean that his victims received reparations for the pain he caused. At the time of his actions, he was old enough to know better. He told his parents that he knew better. Yet he molested these 5 victims multiple times. At the very least, he should pay for their therapy.
I agree on the point about the victims. I am sorry for them and hope they get the help they need and can heal from this. I also accept mainstream media carrying this case because I believe it acts as a deterrent. I don’t necessarily believe that all media outlets should ‘continue’ to carry the story though, in particular because the fact is the boy was a child at the time of his crimes and as far as we know he has NOT committed any such crimes as an adult. That is an important point for me. I cannot be persuaded past the point that he was a child at the time of his criminal behaviour. Having said that, I do not believe this excuses him. I also support the right of any victim to take action against him or any abuser at any point in time regardless of whether the perpetrator was a child or not. I am of the opinion that all of these children were let down by the adults involved. 😦
I’m so glad this woman is pursuing justice for herself. I can only imagine how much pressure she’s been under to remain silent.
Me too. I hope it goes well for her.
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She’s a brave young woman and I hope that she can get her day in court. Not only for herself, but for other young people (regardless of gender) who are are wrongly taught that their injuries don’t matter as much as forgiving the person who injured them.
That should be applied to everyone, but maybe it will have bigger ripple effects in the home-schooled world than it will in public or private schools.
She has a lot of courage to bring this forward at all. I hope it serves her well throughout her life.
I’m not certain where this link is the best fit, but I thought I’d post it here. I just can’t imagine what TLC is thinking when they agreed to this idea.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/08/desperate-duggars-pitch-tlc-new-show-where-they-counsel-sex-abuse-victims-report/
I’m not surprised, but I still feel badly for his wife (and kids, who will someday know about this):
http://gawker.com/family-values-activist-josh-duggar-had-a-paid-ashley-ma-1725132091?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow