Jessa, Dillard set record straight about bro Josh Duggar's molestation past

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ANI Washington
Last Updated : Jun 06 2015 | 3:13 PM IST

Jessa Seewald and her sister Jill Dillard have addressed the sexual abuse they experienced at the hands of their older brother Josh Duggar.

Seewald explained in a sit-down interview with Megyn Kelly on 'The Kelly File' that she can speak out and set the record straight, adding that in Duggar's case, he was a young boy in puberty and a little too curious about girls that got him into some trouble, the Fox News reported.

The 22-year-old TV personality added that her brother made some bad choices, but really the extent of it was mild, inappropriate touching, on fully clothed victims, most of it while girls were sleeping.

Dillard and Seewald said that they were unaware of what their brother had done to them until he confessed to their parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, prompting their parents to speak to them about their brother's behavior.

The sisters said their parents spoke to each child individually about what their brother had done. Dillard recalled that her brother asked each of the girls he inappropriately touched for forgiveness.

Dillard noted that she had to make that choice to forgive him and it wasn't something that somebody forced like, "Oh you need to do this. It's like, you have to make that decision for yourself."

After Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar became aware of abuse, they told Kelly they put safeguards in place in their home. Dillard said their parents added locks to the doors in their home.

Seewald noted the Duggars, who are known for their strong Christian beliefs, are being judged as they are a family with challenges and struggles just like anybody else.

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First Published: Jun 06 2015 | 3:01 PM IST

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