Jason Duggar and his wife, Maddie Grace Duggar, are the latest family members to weigh in on Joseph’s arrest for alleged child molestation on March 18.
“We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions,” the couple wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives.”
They continued, writing that their “hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable” and calling the allegations “something unthinkable.”
“We are angered by what has happened, and we pray God’s righteous hand and the court system will serve justice in the situation as deserved,” the joint statement went on.
“Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so. To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.”
The statement concluded by asking fans to “pray for the victim” and praised her for being “brave enough to share what happened” during the alleged 2020 incident in Florida.
“We also ask that you pray for his family at this time, as his children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives,” they wrote, referencing Joseph and Kendra Duggar’s four children. “We stand with innocent children. Always.”
A rep for the family did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The statement from Jason and Maddie, who married in 2024, comes on the heels of other family reactions, including Joseph’s sister, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, and her husband Jeremy Vuolo.
“This was devastating news to hear,” Jeremy said during Wednesday’s episode of their eponymous podcast, explaining that “it’s been a really difficult week” for them.
Jinger chimed in, that Joseph’s arrest had been “So hard and painful on many levels” for the couple and called it “just unthinkable.”
Cousin Amy Duggar, meanwhile, confessed she was “sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry,” in a statement obtained by People on Friday.
Brother Josh Duggar, however — who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material in 2021 — called the allegations “false” through his lawyer.
“He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction,” his attorney told the Daily Mail on Friday of Josh, who spoke out from behind bars in Florida.
Joseph was arrested earlier this month after the victim told authorities she was 9 when she was allegedly molested by Joseph during a Panama City Beach, Fla., family vacation in 2020.
The victim claimed Joseph, 31, touched her genitals and that after rubbing her thighs, apologized and stopped.
According to the Tontitown Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas, where the reality-famous family resides, the victim’s father confronted Joseph, who admitted his intentions were “not pure” in a phone call ahead of the arrest.
The “19 Kids and Counting” alum is currently being held in the Washington County Detention Center after being charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving a victim younger than the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 or older.
On Friday, his wife Kendra Duggar, 27, was also arrested, and new charges were filed against the couple, with a source telling Us Weekly that “Kendra’s arrest has nothing to do with Joseph’s — although one precipitated another.”
“As a result of the continuing investigation, additional charges have been filed in this case against Joseph Duggar, 31, and Kendra Duggar, 27,” a release from the Tontitown Police Department read on Friday.
The statement explained that arrest warrants had been issued for Joseph and Kendra on four second degree counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and four second degree counts of false imprisonment each.
Read the full article here
