Huckabee slams media for ‘blood-thirsty’ coverage of Duggar molestation report

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee took to Facebook Friday morning to slam the “blood-thirsty media” for “sensationalizing” the news that former Family Research Council executive Josh Duggar had reportedly molested several underage girls, including his sisters, as a teenager.

“Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, ‘inexcusable,’ but that doesn’t mean ‘unforgivable,’ ” Huckabee wrote on his Facebook page. “He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities.”

According to a police report obtained by In Touch magazine, Duggar — of “19 Kids and Counting” fame — confessed to “forcibly fondling” several girls and was sent away to a “Christian ministry” by his parents.

Authorities were alerted to the alleged molestation three years later by an anonymous tipster, but the statute of limitations had reportedly lapsed, and no charges were filed.

“The reason that the law protects disclosure of many actions on the part of a minor is that the society has traditionally understood something that today’s blood-thirsty media does not understand,” Huckabee said. “That being a minor means that one’s judgement is not mature.”

Josh Duggar was 15 at the time.

“No one needs to defend Josh’s actions as a teenager,” Huckabee continued, “but the fact that he confessed his sins to those he harmed, sought help, and has gone forward to live a responsible and circumspect life as an adult is testament to his family’s authenticity and humility.”

Huckabee went on to note that the Duggars’ “Christian witness is not marred in our eyes because following Christ is not a declaration of our perfection, but of HIS perfection,” and “it is precisely because we are all sinners that we need His grace and His forgiveness.”

Duggar resigned his position as executive director of FRC Action, the Family Research Council’s lobbying arm, following the In Touch exposé.

“Josh believes that the situation will make it difficult for him to be effective in his current work,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins in a statement. “We believe this is the best decision for Josh and his family at this time. We will be praying for everyone involved.”