Jessa Duggar Seewald and her husband Ben have broken their silence following the arrest of brother Josh Duggar for possession and receipt of child pornography — to which he pled not guilty on Friday April 29.
The reality star and soon-to-be mother of four children, 28, — who claimed to have been one of his alleged victims — released a statement alongside her husband on Instagram Saturday in which they said they were ‘saddened,’ by the news.
The couple is the latest to condemn the father of six’s actions with sisters Jinger and Jill releasing statements alongside parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, after the sex pest’s behavior was exposed.
Speaking out: Jessa Duggar Seewald, 28, and her husband Ben broke their silence Saturday following sex pest brother Josh Duggar’s arrest on two counts of child pornography
Sadness: The joint statement read: ‘We are saddened to hear of the charges against Josh. As Christians, we stand against any form of pornography or abuse and we desire for the truth to be exposed, whatever that may be’
The joint statement read: ‘We are saddened to hear of the charges against Josh. As Christians, we stand against any form of pornography or abuse and we desire for the truth to be exposed, whatever that may be.’
‘Our prayers are with their family as they walk through this difficult time,’ the pair concluded.
Jess’s sister Jinger Vuolo posted a statement Friday on behalf of she and husband Jeremy Vuolo, after news of Josh’s arrest made headlines.
‘We are disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh. While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice.’ her message read.
And their sister Jill also poke out after news of the arrest: ‘We just found out this information yesterday,’ Jill and husband Derick Dillard said in a statement to People before details of the charges were made public. ‘It is very sad.’
Not guilty: Josh Duggar, 33, pleaded not guilty to child porn charges on Friday during a virtual federal court hearing after he was booked for the receipt and possession of graphic minor material
Booked: Duggar was taken into custody in Springdale, Arkansas a day earlier after turning himself in but the charges were not announced at the time
Steep sentence: If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison
Meanwhile, Josh’s cousin Amy King revealed she’s ‘devastated’ by the charges.
Speaking to The Sun, Amy, 34, said: ‘At the moment I have no comment to make. I’m kind of speechless, we just hope it’s not true.
‘I spoke with several of my cousins after we heard about the arrest. We’re in shock, but we don’t want to think the worst of someone, you want to think the best. If it is true it would absolutely devastate a lot of people.’
Amy added: ‘Everybody that knows Josh would be devastated. Just thinking about it makes me want to have a glass of wine right now.’
The former 19 Kids and Counting star pleaded not guilty to the federal charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing during which was ordered to live with a third party with no children if he is granted bond.
Reality fame: The Arkansas-based family rose to fame on 19 Kids And Counting and she and Ben are soon to have a fourth child
Jinger Duggar – now known as Jinger Vuolo – has released a statement to condemn her brother Josh after he was arrest on possession of child pornography. She is pictured here with husband Jeremy Vuolo
Speaking out: Jinger said she was ‘disturbed’ by the charges against her brother in a post she shared to Instagram on Friday
‘We just found out this information yesterday,’ Jill and husband Derick Dillard said in a statement to People before details of the charges were made public. ‘It is very sad.’
Josh’s cousin also spoke out – telling The Sun ‘If it is true it would absolutely devastate a lot of people.’
Duggar was taken into custody in Springdale, Arkansas a day earlier after turning himself in but the charges were not announced at the time. He is charged with receiving and possessing material depicting the sexual abuse of children.
According to the indictment, he is alleged to have downloaded child sexual abuse material online in May 2019. Some of the child pornography material he is accused of possessing shows children under the age of 12.
If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years in prison.
Prior to the charges being formally announced, a source told The Sun that his wife was ‘standing by’ him and accompanied him to the police station.
His arrest followed a Homeland Security raid on his now-closed car dealership, Wholesale Motorcars, in Springdale, Arkansas back in November 2019. He was not charged at the time.
‘We love Josh’: The disgraced star’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar appear to be standing by their son and said they will ‘continue to pray’ for him and his family
‘The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious’ His parents issued this statement on Friday
His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, issued a statement on Friday, saying they were praying for their son and pregnant daughter-in-law.
‘The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,’ they said.
‘It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.’
The couple rose to fame on TLC show 19 Kids and Counting which documented their family life in rural Arkansas and raising their kids in a devout Christian Baptist environment.
The arrest marks Duggar’s latest brush with the law after his father, Jim Bob, reported him to police in 2006 for allegedly molesting five young girls over multiple occasions back when he was 14 and 15.
Large brood: The arrest marks Duggar’s latest brush with the law after his father, Jim Bob, reported him to police in 2006 for allegedly molesting five young girls over multiple occasions back when he was 14 and 15
It took several years and a tip-off to local police that finally forced Jim Bob to report his son’s behavior to authorities.
Josh’s behavior was first discovered in March of 2002, when one of his youngest sisters went to Jim Bob ‘very upset and crying’. Josh admitted to touching her breasts and genitals while she was sleeping on multiple occasions.
In the report, Jim Bob said Josh was ‘disciplined,’ though didn’t reveal what the discipline entailed.
But there were more incidents to follow after that. And it was revealed that Jim Bob decided to finally go to authorities after an anonymous tip was made to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline about Josh’s behavior.
Finally speaking to police on Dec. 12, 2006, Jim Bob said when he learned about what his son was doing, he ‘met with the elders of his church and told them what was going on.’
Jim Bob, reported Josh to police in 2006 for allegedly molesting five young girls over multiple occasions back when he was 14 and 15. He waited several years before reporting it and only did when an anonymous tip was made to the Arkansas State Police Child Abuse Hotline about Josh’s behavior
It wasn’t until May 2015, when the police report leaked in the media, that details of the accusations against Josh went public. The reality show was cancelled by TLC two months later
They sent Josh to a Christian program that consisted of hard physical work and counseling from March 17, 2003 to July 17, 2003.
It later emerged that the institute’s founder, Bill Gothard, was accused of sexually harassing or assaulting 34 women in 2014 and resigned shortly afterward.
It wasn’t until May 2015, when the police report leaked in the media, that details of the accusations went public. The reality show was cancelled by TLC two months later.
Duggar’s sisters, Jessa and Jill Duggar, have since claimed they were two of their brother’s alleged victims.
Duggar’s wife Anna and family all stood by him after the sex abuse scandal emerged, with Jessa and Jill saying they had forgiven him.
Josh and wife Anna, who has stood by him throughout his legal woes, are expecting their seventh child together
Josh and Anna’s announcement on Instagram three days earlier that they are expecting another child. ‘It’s a GIRL!!!!!’ the caption for the clip began
He also issued a public apology addressing the claims saying: ‘Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends.’
Just months later, Duggar was rocked by another scandal when it was revealed that he had an account on Ashley Madison – the cheating website for married men.
He released yet another statement apologizing for cheating on his wife, saying: ‘I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the Internet and this has become a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.’
His arrest on the latest charges came just days after he and his wife Anna announced they were expecting their seventh child.
Anna shared the news to Instagram on Saturday with a video of herself and her husband hugging in a field with all six of their kids running toward the camera.
Anna was pregnant in 2015 when the molestation became public knowledge. They have been married since 2008
The announcement doubled as a gender reveal as pink confetti came out of a clear umbrella the couple – who are both 33 – was holding over their heads.
Prior to the charges being formally announced, a source told The Sun that his wife was ‘standing by’ him and accompanied him to the police station.
‘Anna is standing by her husband as she always has,’ the source said. ‘Josh and Anna asked the family to pray for them, and said that they love them.’
Meanwhile, TLC issued a statement in light of the arrest, telling People: ‘TLC is saddened to learn about the continued troubles involving Josh Duggar,
’19 Kids and Counting has not aired since 2015. TLC cancelled the show on the heels of prior allegations against Josh Duggar and he has not appeared on-air since then.’
Jill, 29, also came out as one of Josh’s victims. Jim Bob and Michelle also told the local police that Josh had ‘apologized’ to his victims and said they had ‘forgiven’ him
Just months after the molestation allegations hit headlines, Duggar was rocked by another scandal when it was revealed that he had an account on Ashley Madison – the cheating website for married men
Josh has had several scrapes with the law in recent years.
Four of the girls were his sisters but he was never criminally charged. He spent several months in a Christian rehab facility where he was treated for a sex addiction.
He was sued by a porn star in 2015 for allegedly assaulting her during sex but the lawsuit was later dropped.
Duggar is also currently in the midst of a separate legal battle after a civil lawsuit was filed against him for real estate fraud.