'19 Kids and Counting' Jill and Jessa Duggar Defend Josh Duggar, Refute Claims of Brother Being a Pedophile, Child Molester or Rapist

Jill Duggar on Brother Molestation Scandal
(Photo: Fox News)

Two of Josh Duggar's sister, Jill and Jessa, said they felt compelled to defend their brother Josh after the molestation issues thrown at his direction. It has been recently revealed that Josh had molested his sisters during his younger years.

In an interview, Jessa said, "He made some bad choices. But really the extent of it was mild, inappropriate touching, on fully clothed victims, most of it while girls were sleeping."

Their parents did not deny about Josh admitting to fondling four of his sisters along with a babysitter. While the police have already investigated the incident and Josh has undergone counseling, it was only a few weeks back that the incident became public.

Teary eyed, Jill defended his brother. "I see it as a re-victimization that's 1,000 times worse -- because this is something that was already dealt with," Jill said. "We've already forgiven Josh. We've already moved on."

"Nobody asked us to do this," Jill Duggar said. "Jessa and I were talking and were like, 'Oh my goodness, most of the stuff out there is lies.' It's not the truth. And for the truth's sake, we wanted to come out and set the record straight."

Jill also had to emphasize that they are not a perfect family. "We're just family," she said.

She also refuted the claims that Josh was a pedophile, child molester and rapist. She insisted that she has the right to say that the claims are lies because she was one of the victims. She has openly admitted that she and her siblings, as well as the babysitter involved, have forgiven Josh.

"It's right to say, 'here's what I believe, here's my values,' even if you've made stupid mistakes or failures," Jessa added. "If you've had failures in your past it doesn't mean you can't be changed. I think the real issue is people are making this sound like it happened yesterday."

Jill is now 24 years old while Jessa is 22. They are just two of the siblings who star in TLC's 19 Kids and Counting.

The incident happened when Josh was 14. He is now 27 years old and he just recently resigned from his position as a "lobbyist" at a Christian group named Family Research Council. Prior to that, he issued a statement admitting and apologizing about the issue. "I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption," Josh said in a statement.

Josh has not since made any public appearance.  

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