It’s been over two years since the world learned that Josh Duggar molested five young women while he was still in his teens.
Four of those women were Josh’s sisters, and while they were outraged by news of his abuse going public, it seems their anger was not directed at their oldest brother.
Instead of seeking legal recourse against the perpetrator of the heinous misdeeds, Jill, Jessa, Jinger and Joy-Anna Duggar sued the police department that released the records of Josh’s abuse, as well as the owners of In Touch for publishing the report.
The suit not only promised a lucrative settlement, it also sent a message that Josh had been forgiven by his sisters and that the Duggars remain united against a hostile outside world.
The plan backfired, however, when Josh attempted to join his sisters’ lawsuit, claiming that he too was a victim, as the released report resulted in irreparable damage to his career and reputation.
(That’ll happen when the world learns you’re an unpunished and seemingly unrepentant sex criminal.)
But while the Duggar women have been astonishingly forgiving in their behavior toward Josh, it seems they draw the line at allowing him to piggyback on their lawsuit.
In court documents obtained by E! News, attorneys for the Duggar sisters argue that Josh’s case must be decided separately in order to ensure a fair outcome for Jill, Jessa, Jinger, and Joy-Anna”
“Deciding claims based on protecting victims of sex crimes from disclosure, while at the same time, having those claims consolidated with the perpetrator of those crimes will be confusing to the jury,” the documents state.
“It would be next to impossible for a jury to ignore the perpetrator sitting next to the victims, yet decide the different issues, different claims and different damages that apply for victims as compared to perpetrator.”
The lawyers go on to echo the sentiments of many fans, claiming that a joint lawsuit with Josh gives the impression that the sisters and their abuser are on the same side.
“Consolidation would undoubtedly give the false impression that the victims and the perpetrator are ‘in this together,"” the attorneys argue.
“Forcing the victims to join their claims with their perpetrator’s claims would further traumatize the very victims Arkansas law is designed to protect.”
The documents are significant, as while there have long been rumors of divisions witin the Duggar family, this is the first time that those reports have been confirmed from the inside.
It may be largely for the purpose of ensuring a favorable outcome, but the Duggar woman do not want to be on the same side as Josh in this lawsuit, and they don’t care who knows it.
Back in May, the Duggars released a statement outlining their reasons for filing suit:
“This case is solely about protecting children who are victims of abuse. Revealing juvenile identities under these circumstances is unacceptable, and it’s against the law,” the statement reads.
“The media and custodians of public records who let these children down must be held accountable. This case has vast implications for all our children. We hope that by bringing this case to the public’s attention, all children will be protected from reckless reporting.”
The language here is important, as the Duggar women are seeking protection for children.
Josh was not a child when he committed his crimes, or when his records were released.
And as the attacker, he’s certainly not in need of protection.
We’ll have further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.