REPORT Non-Duggar victim to sue Josh Duggar

Although Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald said they and Josh Duggar’s other victims of “inappropriate touching” have since forgiven him, that may not be the case, according to a new report.

In May, a now-expunged police report revealed Josh was accused of molesting five young girls when he was a teenager. The same day, he resigned from his position with the Family Research Council and admitted to acting “inexcusably” 12 years ago. Sisters Jill and Jessa later identified themselves as victims, but claimed that they, their sisters, and the one non-family victim had forgiven Josh.

However, sources now tell In Touch that the fifth woman is preparing to file a civil lawsuit against Josh under Arkansas Code 16-56-130. The code allows a victim to sue if the victim can prove traumatic effects of the abuse years later, regardless of the statute of limitations for the alleged crime.

A lawsuit means that Josh and the Duggar family could have to go into detail about what happened. It could also expose the church elders who failed their responsibilities as mandatory reporters. As a source explained, “All the church elders who knew about this would have to be named.”

If the victim goes forward with her lawsuit, In Touch suggests it’s all the more unlikely TLC will revive 19 Kids and Counting. As the publication put it, “The show could be on the air while the Duggars are fighting a lawsuit that exposes all of Josh’s secrets surrounding the molestations and how the family covered it up.”