Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s first interview since their son Josh’s molestation case came to light last month aired Wednesday night, showing the couple talking to Fox News’ Megyn Kelly about the haunting ordeal.
The 19 Kids and Counting stars admitted four of the victims were their own daughters, with the youngest being 5 at the time. The other victim was a babysitter.
They repeatedly told Kelly that it was Josh who came to them with the information and if he had not, they wouldn’t have known because their daughters did not know anything inappropriate had happened.
"We were shocked, we were devastated," Michelle Duggar said. "As parents we felt, we're failures. We tried to raise our kids to do what's right — to know what's right. And yet one of our children made really bad choices."
They’re looking into legal action for these sealed filed involving minors being leaked to the media and they’re most concerned about their daughters having to live this nightmare publicly.
"Every victim should have the right to tell their own story, not by a tabloid,” said Jim Bob.
USA Today reports they insist Josh is not a pedophile and his actions of touching the victims “over their clothes” is “not unforgivable.”
When Kelly brought up moral hypocrisy, Michelle replied, "Everyone of us has done something wrong. That’s why Jesus came. This is more about—there’s an agenda. There are people who are purposing to bring things out and twisting them to hurt and slander.”
Jessa and Jill Duggar, two of the victims, will appear in their own interview with Kelly on Friday.