[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Amy Duggar King is speaking out again as her cousin Joseph Duggar prepares to face trial, and this time she’s sharing details about a deeply personal conversation she says she had with the young girl accusing him of sexual assault.
While the Duggar family has often remained quiet when legal controversies emerge, Amy has continued to publicly address the allegations, and her latest interview offered an emotional look at what she says happened behind the scenes.
Related: Amy Duggar SLAMS Cousin Joseph For Calling Wife Kendra ‘Competent’ In Jail Call
During an appearance this week on the Sarah Fraser Show, Amy revealed that she spoke directly with the girl who alleges Joseph assaulted her during a 2020 family vacation in Florida. Rather than focusing on the legal case itself, Amy said she wanted to encourage the now-14-year-old and remind her that the allegations do not have to define the rest of her life.
In the interview, Amy said:
“I just gave her hope. I said, ‘This doesn’t have to destroy you. It really truly doesn’t.’ I told her that if she ever just needed a safe place to talk, that I’m here.”
Amy also praised the teenager for coming forward despite knowing the scrutiny she could face, saying she admired the courage it took to speak publicly about such painful allegations:
“You speaking out and you being so honest and vulnerable, knowing the backlash and knowing the people that would turn their backs on you and not believe you, you are such a strong person.”
The interview didn’t stop there. Amy also addressed Joseph’s ongoing criminal case, saying she hopes he ultimately pleads guilty rather than continuing to maintain his not guilty plea.
Her comments appeared to reference allegations described in the arrest affidavit, although she did not specifically mention the document by name when she noted:
“I don’t understand how you can admit to it and say you did it, and then backtrack and change it and be like, ‘Well, I might have said that, but I didn’t mean that.’”
As we’ve reported, according to the arrest affidavit, investigators allege Joseph admitted during a phone conversation with the girl’s father and a detective that he touched the child over her clothing and acknowledged that his intentions “were not pure.” Those allegations are expected to be central to the case as it moves toward trial, and Joseph has denied the criminal charges against him.
Amy also reflected on the emotional toll the arrest took on members of the extended Duggar family. She revealed that one of her first calls after learning about Joseph’s arrest in March was to her cousin Jill Dillard, who has previously spoken publicly about being sexually abused as a child by her older brother, Josh Duggar. Amy said:
“I immediately cried. I immediately called Jill, and Jill and I cried on the phone.”
Amy added that she stayed on the phone with Jill until she felt confident she was “okay.” Sheesh…
Related: Amy Opens Up About The ‘Darkness’ Inside Duggars Following Multiple Child Sex Abuse Scandals
As we’ve previously reported, Joseph is expected back in court next week for a pretrial hearing. He has pleaded not guilty, remains free after posting bond, and could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
Meanwhile, he and his wife, Kendra, have also reportedly reduced the asking price on one of their homes after it failed to sell.
And here is more from Amy’s convo (below):
And a second part of the interview (below):
Thoughts and reactions, y’all?
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If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Washington County (AR) Sheriff’s Office/Sarah Fraser Show/YouTube]
