NEWSJim Bob Duggar Confesses He 'Tried To Handle Things' After Son Josh Admitted To 'Inappropriate Touching' Of A Minor Ahead Of Child Pornography Trial
Jim Bob Duggar is being forced to speak out about his son Josh Duggar's past molestation controversy ahead of his child pornography trial.
The family patriarch took the stand on Monday, November 29, during an evidentiary hearing to determine if he and family friend Bobye Holt could testify in front on a jury during the embattled TLC star's highly anticipated trial.
As OK! reported, Josh was arrested in April and charged with two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography, which was allegedly found on his computer at his workplace during a 2019 Homeland Security raid. The 33-year-old pleaded not guilty to both charges. His trial is set for November 30, after it was initially pushed back from July because the defense asked for "more time to review the evidence."
Meanwhile, Jim Bob was subpoenaed by the prosecution to speak on Josh's 2015 molestation scandal, in which an unearthed police report from 2006 revealed Josh had allegedly molested five underage girls — including two of his sisters.
(OK! reported Josh also confessed in a 2015 statement that he was addicted to porn, but the Arkansas judge ruled his admission could not be used against him in court on the grounds that it is "irrelevant" to the current charges against him.)
When asked about the police report on Monday, Jim Bob seemingly attempted to side step the question, insisting he "can't remember" the details. He also called the shocking report "tabloid information," per People.
The 56-year-old reportedly became wound up by the topic at hand, as he asked judge Timothy L. Brooks: "I'm not going to allow it, are you going to allow for that?" to which the judge replied: "if there is [an] objection to be made, someone will make it but it won't be you."
While Jim Bob maintained he had no recollection of the police report details — despite having read the report in court — he revealed Josh did approach him and his wife Michelle in 2002 about "inappropriate touching" of a minor, per the outlet. "He had told me that he had touched some of the girls when they were sleeping on their breasts … they didn't wake up," Jim Bob recalled.
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According to the outlet, Jim Bob pointed out he didn't remember his son's exact words, but insisted he and Michelle "were shocked this had happened but we were thankful he came on his own and told us."
Jim Bob added that he and Michelle took Josh to the authorities in 2006 on the recommendation of Jim Holt, Bobye's husband. "Josh confessed everything to Arkansas State Police," he declared, per the outlet.
"We tried to handle things in house," the father-of-19 reportedly added. "It was a very difficult time in our family's life."
The Duggar family's 19 Kids and Counting show ran from 2008 to 2015 on TLC, but was canceled following the resurfaced molestation allegations against Josh. After the police report investigating the then-teen for inappropriately touching young girls was brought to light, the embattled reality star issued an apology for his "wrongdoings."
Though he was never charged for the alleged scandal, his two sisters Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald publicly addressed what they had allegedly endured years later. His sisters — who were minors at the time — recalled their older brother allegedly sexual abusing them while they were sleeping.
The prosecution wants the 2006 incident to be included in the trial as evidence to prove "motive" and "lack of mistake," while the defense maintains Monday's testimony about Josh's alleged actions years ago was not definitive.
The judge has yet to rule whether Jim Bob or Bobye will be allowed to testify.
