The Duggar parents spoke publicly for the first time on Wednesday since reports surfaced about their oldest son, Josh, molesting five underage girls in 2002 and 2003.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar sat down with Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who confronted the parents with their critics' accusations while allowing them to share what happened 12 years ago under their roof.
"Well, 12 years ago, we went through one of the most darkest times that our family has ever gone through," Jim Bob started the conversation. "Our son, Josh, came to us, on his own, and he was crying and he had just turned 14 and he said that he had improperly touched some of our daughters."
Michelle added, "We were shocked. We were just devastated. I don't think any parent can be prepared for a trauma like that... We had one ray of hope in that Josh had a tender conscience and he was the one that came and shared on his own even though the others didn't really know anything."
For most of the conversation, the parents steered the answers toward defending their son. Josh eventually left the home for a short period of time after his third offense when he inappropriately touched one his younger sisters, who was reportedly five years old at the time.
"As parents we felt, 'We're failures.' We tried to raise our kids to know what's right. One of our children made some really bad choices," Michelle said.
When asked about his actions, Jim Bob revealed that Josh said, "He was just curious about girls." The Duggar patriarch also stressed throughout the interview that the majority of the touching took place "over the clothes" and while the girls were asleep. There were at least "a couple" incidents where the girls were awake.
They revealed that four of the daughters were molested along with a babysitter being the fifth victim.
When Kelly pushed for the parents to respond to how they felt about their daughters being victimized, Jim Bob avoided the question and again said how thankful they were that Josh had confessed.
"It was just a bad thing. It's something we'd like to forget," he said about the experience.
Jim Bob tried to shift the focus onto keeping juvenile records sealed because they were promised their son's records would never become public. The Duggars are having discussions with attorneys about possibly suing outgoing Springdale Police Chief Kathy O'Kelly, who signed off on the release of Josh's juvenile records.
"A few weeks ago [O'Kelly] said, 'I'm getting ready to retire. There are a few things I want to do before I retire,'" Jim Bob said. "I think I was on the list."
Michelle also explained that the family instituted many safeguards after the family went through this experience to make sure it never happened again. Josh's parents tried to keep their eye on him at all times prior to sending him away.
"There were a lot of things that changed in our understanding as parents with this first child, first son to come to this place in our lives. There's things we've learned even since then that I think, you know what, We don't let boys babysit. They don't play hide and seek together, where two off and hide. The things we put in place, you're not alone in a room with someone else, boys have to be out visible. Little ones don't sit on big boys laps that you don't know or even family members unless it's your daddy. There are boundaries that we've learned."
On Friday, Kelly will sit down with Duggar sisters Jessa Seewald and Jill Dillard, who have come forward as two of their brothers' victims in a special edition of "The Kelly File." She will also consult with experts about the chances of Josh becoming a repeat offender as an adult, according to Deadline.
"The Kelly File" will air on Friday at 9 p.m. on Fox News channel.
