Coming clean to People magazine, Josh Duggar admitted that he had ‘acted inexcusably,’ when he committed the offences, something ‘which I am extremely sorry [for] and deeply regret.’
Apparently Josh was caught by his own father sneaking out of a young girl’s room, where inappropriate sexual behaviour occurred.
‘I hurt others, including my family and close friends,’ Josh said.
‘I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counselling.’
‘I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.’
The offences, that took place when Josh was a young teenager, have led to Duggar now resigning from his position at the Family Research Council - where he is a pro-life activist.
His parents, Jim Bob, 49, and Michelle, 48, said in a joint statement that at the time of the offence the family were going through ‘one of the most difficult times of our lives.’
‘When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes…That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.’
Josh’s wife Anna, 26, has also remained devoted to her husband despite the drama, saying: ‘I can imagine the shock man of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling the same shock.’
Anna was apparently told about Josh’s past two years before they married, saying she was ‘surprised at his openness and humility.’
‘I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions,’ says Josh. I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption.’