Jinger Duggar is getting candid about how she’s dealt with “heavy” feelings amid brother Joseph Duggar’s child sex abuse case.
During a Wednesday, April 29, Q&A session on Jinger’s Instagram Story, a fan asked the 19 Kids and Counting alum if she’s doing “OK” amid the scandal.
“You look so disconnected in your podcasts,” the fan added. “It’s OK to not be OK. I am sorry.”
Jinger, 32, responded, “Thanks for asking. It’s been a heavy season that reopened old wounds.”
Joseph, 31, was arrested on March 18 and charged with one count of lewd and lascivious behavior for molesting a victim under 12 and one count of lewd and lascivious behavior by a person over 18. A 14-year-old girl accused the former reality TV star of touching her inappropriately multiple times on a vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida, when she was 9 years old.
Joseph’s case comes five years after brother Josh Duggar was convicted on charges of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. The disgraced TLC personality, 38, is currently serving a nearly 12-year prison sentence.
Additionally, in 2015, Josh reportedly confessed to molesting multiple young girls, including some of his sisters.
Jinger continued on Wednesday, “I wanted to talk about these things on the pod, and at the same time, it’s honestly so hard to do. I’ve been plugged in deep with my community here, not as active on socials, enjoying fun days with my little fam, and God is giving me help as I see brighter days ahead.”
Two days after Joseph’s arrest, he was hit with additional charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment. His wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested on the same charges. (Joseph and Kendra, 27, share four children.)
A source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that the additional charges and Kendra’s arrest had “nothing to do” with Joseph’s child sex abuse case in Florida.
“After his charge, they automatically do a home study if minors live there. They came to [Kendra’s] house,” the source said. “Apparently, they had two rooms where the lock of the doorknob was on the outside instead of inside. They arrested her and took her kids for that, saying it’s evidence that she wrongly detains her kids.”
Kendra pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a $1,470 bond. She was initially ordered to have no contact with her alleged victims, but on April 17, a judge approved her lawyer’s request to have the order lifted.
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Meanwhile, Joseph pleaded not guilty to child molestation and requested a trial by jury. He was subsequently released on a $600,000 bond on March 31.
Joseph also pleaded not guilty to endangering the welfare of a minor on Monday, April 27.
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.
