Jim Bob Duggar & Michelle Duggar's Arkansas Home Visited By Homeland Security Agents
Nov. 20 2019, Updated 4:57 p.m. ET
Jim Bob Duggar and wife Michelle Duggar's Arkansas home was reportedly visited by Homeland Security agents last week. Homeland Security Investigations commented on the reports that began to circulate online on November 18, but they would not provide any other details on the matter. The Duggar family issued a statement on their Instagram account shortly after the news made headlines.
"We were shocked to see a news report today state that our home was raided by federal law enforcement agencies. This is not true. To the best of our knowledge, it's also not true that any member of our family is the target of any investigation of any kind. Living a life in the public's eye has taught us that it is best not to reply to every rumor and piece of 'fake news' that is circulated online. It would be a full-time job if we attempted to do so. However, because of tonight's media coverage we thought it is important to address this rumor with you. Thank you for the love and support that we can always count on in you our fans and friends," the Duggar Family Instagram account statement read.
A Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson told KNWA news station that they paid a visit to the couple's Tontitown, Arkansas home. "I do not dispute the information that HSI was present there Duggar home pursuant to an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” they told the outlet.
While the nature of their investigation is still undisclosed, Homeland Security Investigations handles matters related to financial crimes, commercial fraud and intellectual property theft, cybercrime, human rights violations, and human smuggling and trafficking. They also handle immigration, document and benefit fraud, narcotics and weapons smuggling/trafficking, transnational gang activity, export enforcement, and international art and antiquity theft, according to the website.
Jim Bob and Michelle's son Josh Duggar is rumored be at the center of the investigation. Reports began circulating on November 16 on Facebook and on the website Crazy Days And Nights that either Josh's home or business had been raided by the FBI.
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However, an FBI agent in Arkansas denied any raid took place in a statement to RadarOnline.com on November 18. “We were not involved in any kind of law enforcement action. I can confirm we were not there," they told the outlet.
The family's show 19 Kids and Counting was canceled after a bombshell report by In Touch Weekly in 2015 revealed that Josh, now 31, allegedly molested five underage girls — including four of his sisters — when he was between the ages of 14 and 15. The family's subsequent spinoff Counting On does not feature Josh.
Also in 2015, Josh admitted to cheating on wife Anna Duggar after his Ashley Madison account was exposed in a data breach. In addition to his infidelity, Josh confessed that he had a porn addiction and entered rehab that August.
Anna stayed with Josh and they are currently expecting their sixth child together. They celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary this September.