Mike Huckabee may have just earned himself the expansive Duggar family voting bloc. The presidential hopeful, 59, took to Facebook on Friday, May 22, to defend Josh Duggar and his 19 Kids and Counting costars/family members as the reality star faces repercussions from a child molestation scandal.
Josh, 27, has a history with Huckabee, as he and his family members have campaigned for the conservative politician and fellow Arkansan in the past. The Republican politico, who is once again running for President in the 2016 election, said on Friday that he and his wife of more than 40 years, Janet Huckabee, are standing by Josh and the Duggars.
"Janet and I want to affirm our support for the Duggar family," Huckabee wrote. "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."
Josh released a vague statement about the scandal on Thursday, offering few details on what exactly happened when he was 14 years old and allegedly investigated for molesting five young girls, but apologizing for hurting others including family and friends.
Great to visit w/ my friend @GovMikeHuckabee this morning in DC. Thankful to have his voice on the #2016 stage! pic.twitter.com/qN2FiyadVf
— Josh Duggar (@joshduggar) May 16, 2015
"Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things," Huckabee continued. "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."
In his statement, Josh explained that he sought counseling after the incidents and that his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, "arranged for those affected" to get treatment as well.
"Those who have enjoyed revealing this long ago sins 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," Huckabee wrote. "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," continued the politician, whose religion drives much of his politics including an opposition to abortion and gay marriage. "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."
