Republicans often falsely accuse their opponents of being “groomers”—pedophiles who build relationships with children so they can be molested.

Yet Republicans have plenty of their own “groomers.” 

One of these is Josh Duggar, the former 19 Kids and Counting star. 

On April 29, 2021, he was arrested by deputy United States marshals on charges of violating Federal anti-child pornography laws. 

Come ride the Marshals’ car
That is blazin’ down the street
To the Duggars.

Forget the Right-wing lies.
It is time for a bust
At the Duggars. 

On April 30, he appeared at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas via Zoom, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There he pleaded “not guilty” to two charges filed against him:

• Receipt of child pornography and
• Possession of child pornography.

Homeland Security Special Agent Gerald Faulkner testified that some of the pictures depicted children ranging from 18 months to 12 years of age. 

On December 9, 2021, a federal jury found him guilty on both charges.

In May, 2022, he was sentenced to more than 12 years imprisonment. 

For Duggar, 2015 was the year that ended his fame as the “golden boy” of the Radical Right. 

What a perv, you bet!
Even worse, when they get
To the Duggars. 

Pedophile lockup!

On May 21, 2015, Duggar resigned as director of the Family Research Council, a Right-wing organization dedicated to fighting sexually-oriented issues such as same-sex marriage, abortion and pornography.

Duggar, then 27, had owed his position to being the oldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, of Tonitown, Arkansas.

Until his resignation, the Duggars were famous for popping out 19 babies and championing Right-wing “family values” causes, such as opposing abortion and homosexuality.

Josh Duggar, the “all-American” child molester

Then, on May 21, 2015, Josh Duggar issued a statement to People magazine explaining why he had resigned from the Family Research Council. He later published the statement on his Facebook page.

It read, in part:

“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. 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 counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.’

There’s a Federal lockup
Called the Perverts Place
Near the Duggars. 

Pedophile lockup!

What his statement didn’t say was this:

• In 2002-3, as a 14-15 year-old, Josh Duggar had fondled the breasts and vaginas of five underage girls—four of whom were his own sisters.
• Although his parents knew about his perverted activities, Jim Bob Duggar waited more than a year after Josh confessed before contacting the police.
• Police began investigating the abuse in 2006 when tipped by a family friend but concluded the statute of limitations had lifted.
• His father later took him to talk with a close family friend, an Arkansas state trooper. The trooper gave him a “stern talk,” but did not open a case. Nor was Duggar referred for criminal charges.
• His resignation wasn’t prompted by a guilty conscience but by two days of media reports on this story.

It is run by cops
Josh is now their guest
At the lockup.

Pedophile lockup! 

As a result of these revelations, on May 22, 2015, The Learning Channel (TLC) canceled its high-rated “reality” series, 19 Kids and Counting, which had showcased the Duggar family since 2008.

In August 2015, Gawker reported that Josh—then married—had active accounts on Ashley Madison, a website promoting extramarital affairs.

The scandalous revelations turned the Duggars into comedic fodder for standup comedians, cartoonists and visitors to Twitter and Facebook.

One cartoon showed Josh Duggar saying, “I got a word named after me,” and holding a sign defining that word: “Duggar: To sexually abuse innocent victims while trumpeting your own moral superiority. Example: Hold my Bible while I Duggar you.”

And on Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show, Larry Whitmore made Josh Duggar a target for dark humor:

“So you mean to tell me the family that goes around saying gay and trans people are pedophiles preying on America’s young people actually has a pedophile that preys on America’s young people? I hate pedophiles, but I love irony.”

And Josh now can wail:
“Kiddie porn will get you jail!”
At the lockup. 

Pedophile lockup!

And on Twitter, the criticism continued:

• “Josh Duggar says no child should feel the pain of being aborted. I say no child should feel the pain of being molested.”
• “So daddy Duggar is ok with his son molesting his daughters, but not ok with his daughters leaving for college. Misogyny at its greatest.”
• “In the Duggar family, you’re reprimanded for kissing before marriage but not for assaulting your siblings.” 

Before Josh Duggar was forced to admit his scandalous depravities, he had hobnobbed with many influential Right-wingers, including:

• Former United States Senator Rick Santorum;
• Senator Rafael “Ted” Cruz;
• Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush;
• Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee;
• Texas Governor Rick Perry.

It’s a safe bet that he won’t be hobnobbing with them again.