Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar Reveal Daughters Didn't Know Josh was Touching Them Improperly

On Wednesday night, June 3, 2015, former fans of 19 Kids and Counting and the rest of the nation were shocked by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar's comments when they finally spoke out about their eldest son Josh Duggar's molestation drama. Jim Bob and his wife claimed that the victims, some of which were his daughers, didn't know that they had been touched improperly until they were asked about the incident. The parents admitted that the first few times Josh touched his sisters, they were asleep and clothed, but other times some of the girls were awake.

"He said he was just curious about girls, and he had gone in and basically just touched them over their clothes while they were sleeping." Jim admitted.

"One by one, as we talked with them, none of them were aware of Josh's wrong doings," Michelle added. "It was more his heart, his intent. He knew that it was wrong. But they weren't even aware. They were like, you know, it wasn't -- to them they didn't probably even understand that it was an improper touch."

In an exclusive interview with Megyn Kelly, the parents of 19 children revealed that Josh's victims included 4 of his sisters and a babysitter. After he had confessed to his parents what he had done, he asked for forgiveness from the sitter who was unaware of what happened.

MStars News previously learned that two of his victims are in fact his sisters, Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald. In a short clip leading up to their full one-hour interview airing this Friday, they revealed that they were overwhelmed that the molestation news had resurfaced.

"The system that was set up to protect kids, both those who make stupid mistakes or have problems like this in their life and the ones that are affected by those choices. It's greatly failed," Jessa, 22, told Kelly.

New mother Jill couldn't hold her tears back as she said, "We are victims, they can't do this to us."

After Josh's parents tried to correct their son's behavior "in house, as parents," they revealed that Josh went to a Christian base facility, following two more incidents.

Jim Bob claims that he was "keeping an eye on Josh ... all the time and watching his behaviors, watching his attitudes."

He added, "We felt we had to get help," after Josh once again touched the girls. "Josh was sent to a man in Little Rock for counseling - an experience his father described as the turning point of his life."

"As parents we were trying to do the best thing we knew how," Michelle explained.

Jim Bob chimed in, "Looking back, we did the best we could under the circumstances."

Josh had to get out when he touched one of the girls who was a "single digit" at the time, which means it was probably Jinger, who was 8 or Joy-Anna, who was only 4 years old back in 2002.

When Josh returned to Little Rock, his parents made him go to the police and tell them what he had done. "We felt it was an important step for Josh to confess to the police," Jim Bob claims.

Michelle added, "There was so much grief in our hearts" as a result of their eldest son's actions. I think as parents, we felt we're failures, you know?" 

So why did they launch a reality show following the incidents? Jim Bob claims, "We had nothing to hide. We'd taken care of all that years before."

The Duggars told Kelly that some of the backlash against the family had increased because of what they stood for, including their Christian beliefs.

Jim Bob explained, "I think, you know what, Christianity is not about being perfect or about being a perfect family, but it's actually about being forgiven...People on the outside think, 'well Christians are supposed to be perfect...' No, you know what, all of us as Christians we struggle every day."