Mike Huckabee Supports '19 Kids And Counting' Star Josh Duggar After 'Inexcusable' Sex Scandal

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee defended reality star Josh Duggar Friday, showing his support for the "19 Kids and Counting” star who is battling allegations amid a child molestation scandal. Duggar has said his actions as a minor were “inexcusable.” Huckabee, a 2016 presidential candidate, issued a Facebook statement that used similar language. The post, in its entirety, is below:

Janet and I want to affirm our support for the Duggar family. Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are, as he described them himself, 'inexcusable,' but that doesn’t mean 'unforgivable.' He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities. No purpose whatsoever is served by those who are now trying to discredit Josh or his family by sensationalizing the story. Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things. 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 — that being a minor means that one's judgement is not mature. No one needs to defend Josh’s actions as a teenager, 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. Those who have enjoyed revealing this long ago sin in order to discredit the Duggar family have actually revealed their own insensitive bloodthirst, for there was no consideration of the fact that the victims wanted this to be left in the past and ultimately a judge had the information on file destroyed — not to protect Josh, but the innocent victims. Janet and I love Jim Bob and Michelle and their entire family. They are no more perfect a family than any family, but their Christian witness is not marred in our eyes because following Christ is not a declaration of our perfection, but of HIS perfection. It is precisely because we are all sinners that we need His grace and His forgiveness. We have been blessed to receive God’s love and we would do no less than to extend our love and support for our friends. In fact, it is such times as this, when real friends show up and stand up. Today, Janet and I want to show up and stand up for our friends. Let others run from them. We will run to them with our support.

The allegations against Josh Duggar have not been confirmed by authorities and remain tabloid fodder. "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," Duggar said in a post on Facebook Thursday. His statement seemed to refer to a 2006 police report obtained by In Touch magazine describing accusations of child molestation in Springdale, Arkansas, reported CNN.

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