Duggars 'Devastated' by Son's Sex Abuse Scandal
TLC's reality TV parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar are speaking out about their oldest son Josh's sexual abuse scandal, saying they were "devastated" by his confessions to them.
They spoke with Fox News' Megyn Kelly about how the situation affected their family. The one-hour interview aired last night on Fox News.
"There was so much grief in our hearts. I think as parents we felt we're failures, you know?" Michelle Duggar told Kelly.
"Here we tried to raise our kids to - to do what's right and know what's right. And yet, one of our children made really bad choices and I think as a parent we were just - we were devastated," she continued.
Jim Bob gave more details about the nature of the abuse and how he and his wife responded.
"He said he was just curious about girls, and he had gone in and basically just touched them over their clothes while they were sleeping," Jim Bob said.
He added that after Josh confessed to them, he and Michelle kept a close eye on their son and spoke with their daughters to make sure Josh had been entirely honest with them.
They said they thought the problem was taken care of, but then after revelations of more improper touching, they sent Josh for professional counseling. When he came back from the counseling, they made him confess to the police.
The Duggar's daughter, Jessa, also spoke out on "The Kelly File" about being one of the sisters that her now 27-year-old brother Josh "improperly touched" when he was a teen.
She defended him, saying the accusations that he's a child molester or pedophile are "so overboard and a lie."
Michelle and Jim Bob and both sisters were also angry that the sealed juvenile records were released, saying the system was supposed to protect kids, but failed.
Kellly spoke with both sisters who say they have been victimized by the tabloids throuh the illegal release of their brother's sealed record. That interview will air 9 p.m. Friday.
TLC has not announced if the family's show, "19 Kids and Counting" will be canceled.
