Jed Duggar is paying tribute to his wife, Katey Duggar, on Mother’s Day in his first social media post after brother Joseph Duggar’s arrest.
“Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful wife, Katey!” Jed, 27, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 10. “You are the best mom our kids could ever ask for. Watching you love Truett, Nora, Emma, and Elsie so well makes me love you even more.”
While sharing photos of Katey smiling with their four kids, Jed added, “Thankful every day for you and the life we’re building together. We all love you so much.”
In the comments section, Jed’s sister-in-law Hannah Duggar wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day, Katey! 💕.” (Hannah tied the knot with Jed’s brother Jeremiah Duggar in 2022.)
Months before Jed’s post, Joseph, 31, was arrested amid accusations of molesting a now 14-year-old victim when she was 9 years old on a family vacation in Florida. Joseph was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older, per a press release from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was released on a $600,000 bond in March and has since reunited with his wife, Kendra Duggar.
The alleged victim told a detective from Arkansas’s Tontitown Police Department in a forensic interview that there were “several instances of sexual abuse” involving Joseph, according to the affidavit obtained by Us Weekly. At the time, Joseph was 25 years old and Kendra was pregnant with their third baby. (The pair share four children.)
The accuser recalled feeling “uncomfortable” and “confused” during the incidents, sharing that Joseph “eventually approached the victim and apologized for his actions,” at which time “the incidents stopped occurring,” according to the affidavit.
In a court motion filed earlier this month, Joseph’s legal team asked a Florida court to allow them to question officials from the Department of Children & Families, Big Ben, Child Protection Team, who interviewed the alleged victim prior to his arrest.
Joseph’s lawyers reserved the right to speak with “any other law enforcement or child protection agency involved with this investigation (including out of state equivalents, specifically Arkansas).” They are also seeking access to evidence gathered by child protection officials in their investigation.
“The Defendant is entitled to discovery of the witness testimony, including records and evidence in the possession of the witnesses for a fair determination of the Defendant’s guilt or innocence at trial,” his legal brief read. (Us reached out to Joseph’s legal team for comment at the time.)
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.
