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Josh Duggar’s Dad Jim Bob Duggar Advocated for the Death Penalty for Incest in 2002 Political Campaign

jim bob
Amidst Josh Duggar's molestation scandal, it was revealed this week that his famous father Jim Bob suggested back in 2002 that rapists and incestuous people should be punished by the death penalty. In this photo, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar speak at the Values Voter Summit on September 17, 2010 in Washington, DC.

More. Amidst Josh Duggar's molestation scandal, it was revealed this week that his father Jim Bob Duggar suggested back in 2002 that rapists and incestuous people should be punished by the death penalty.

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The Duggar family patriarch, 49, made the comments in the Q&A section of his campaign website during his unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in Arkansas back in 2002. In the cached version first revealed by Gawker, Duggar was asked about his position on "abortion… specifically, where do you stand on rape, incest, and threat to the mother's health."

"If a woman is raped, the rapist should be executed instead of the innocent unborn baby," Jim Bob responded of his stance. "Rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes."

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Jim Bob ultimately lost the Republican bid to Senator Tim Hutchinson. However, he and his family members have continually expressed their political stances both on and off their wildly popular 19 Kids and Counting, which was pulled last Friday.

Jim Bob's comments were made the same year his eldest son at age 14 allegedly fondled the breasts and genitals of five girls — some reportedly his sisters. Josh, now 27 and expecting his fourth child with wife Anna Duggar, acknowledged his past transgressions last week after a police report revealed the startling allegations.

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"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," Josh wrote on his family's Facebook account.

"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… I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions. 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."

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Josh subsequently stepped down from his post as Executive Director of FRC Action at the Family Research Council, a Christian nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.

Amidst the scandal, the Duggar family has also received support from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and criticism from other celebrities including Bette Midler and Montel Williams. Immediate family members, meanwhile, have remained silent across all social media platforms.

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