Amy Duggar is enthusiastically supporting cousin Joseph Duggar’s alleged victim after he was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020.
“Just as an advocate for children, clearly, you have to believe the person speaking out against him, right? You have to believe the victim,” Amy, 40, said during the Monday, October 26, episode of the “Fire Chats: The Mindfire Pod” podcast. “I will always stand up for the victim. I will always speak up for the victim.”
Amy revealed that she has “reached out” to the girl who spoke out against Joseph, 31, earlier this year, adding that they’ve communicated ahead of his trial.
“I’ve told her, I’m so proud of her. I’m so proud of her for speaking her truth because it’s so hard to do,” Amy told podcast host Carrie Berk. “When you tell the truth, you think it’s going to bring enlightenment, right? You think it’s what you’re supposed to do.”
The Holy Disruptor author explained that’s not always the case.
“But in those circles, where they want you to be truthful and stay loyal to the family name, that kind of thing gets shunned. You get shunned for telling the truth,” Amy claimed.
That’s why Amy said she “made it very clear on where I stand” and the young girl was “very appreciative” to have someone on her side — even with the last name Duggar.
Amy recalled her conversation with the alleged victim, noting, “I’ve never experienced the things that she’s experienced, but I know she’s such a young girl, and all eyes are on her. It’s scary.”
She remembered telling the girl, “I’m just so proud of her because she didn’t have to speak out. She could have stayed quiet. She could have gave [sic] him all the power.”
Amy pointed out that instead of shy away from the tough conversations, the girl took back her power by reporting Joseph.
“She realized what was wrong and what needed to be said, and she wasn’t scared,” Amy said. “I wanted to encourage her as she goes forward in this trial: Don’t let up. Give it all you’ve got. Be a little spitfire and speak your truth.”
She added that as the trial looms, “I’m still in contact with her” and she’s told the alleged victim’s family, “I will give them all of my support.”
Joseph was arrested in March after being accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a 2020 family vacation. He was later charged with lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious conduct by a person 18 or older.
The former 19 Kids and Counting star pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial before he was released on a $600,000 bond that same month.
In June, a judge denied a motion filed by Joseph’s legal team asking that he be allowed to work at several rental properties he owns, which would place him within 500 feet of his alleged victim. (Joseph has been prohibited from contacting the alleged victim.)
The judge also denied Joseph’s second motion to allow him unsupervised contact with his and wife Kendra Duggar’s four children.
Amy, for her part, is firmly on the side of the alleged victim, telling podcast listeners on Monday, “I hope justice is served ice cold. I really do.”
She confessed, “And that’s really hard to say because I grew up with this person, and I loved this person, and I thought I knew this person.”
While Amy admitted she hasn’t spoken with Joseph “in five or six years now, you just assume they’re doing great. You assume they’re happily married, they love their kids, and it’s a wonderful environment, it’s healthy. It breaks your heart to find out that might not be the case.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
