Josh Duggar Makes New Request in Child Porn Case Amid Financial Strain
Josh Duggar is continuing to fight his conviction.
Three years after the 19 Kids and Counting star and eldest child of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar's 19 kids was sentenced to 12 years in prison for charges related to receipt and possession of child pornography, he has made a new request amid his attempt to overturn his conviction.
Duggar—who shares seven children with wife Anna Duggar—wrote a letter to the judge presiding over his case May 27 requesting a court-appointed attorney, according to legal documents obtained by People. The 37-year-old—who initially pleaded not guilty to his charges amid his 2021 trial—noted in his letter that he is 'unable to afford counsel' due to his current 'financial circumstances.'
Elsewhere in the filing, Duggar noted he is seeking legal assistance to help 'evaluate' any 'constitutional violations' that occurred amid his 2021 trial. Indeed, Duggar—who was arrested in 2021 for allegedly downloading material that depicted sexual abuse of minors under 12 years old—alleged in the documents that the 'broad publicity' of his case may have affected his right to a 'full and fair post-conviction review.'
More from E! Online
Justin Bieber Reacts to Wife Hailey Bieber's $1 Billion Beauty Deal
Savannah Chrisley Reunites With Todd Chrisley in Florida After Prison Release
Eddie Murphy's Son Eric and Martin Lawrence's Daughter Jasmin Are Married
'As time has unfolded, new legal theories and strategies have emerged in public discourse that may be relevant to the Defendant's case,' the documents read. 'In light of these developments, the Defendant seeks to consult with counsel to fully evaluate the potential of these emerging strategies and how they may support a motion for relief.'
Duggar's latest filing comes after he has filed two requests for appeals of his conviction, the latest of which was rejected by the Supreme Court in June 2024. His sentence is set to end in October 2032.
Prior to his 2021 arrest, allegations that Duggar had molested multiple young girls as a teenager—including his sisters Jessa Duggar Seewald and Jill Duggar Dillard who came forward at the time as victims—circulated in 2015, leading his family's TLC reality series to be canceled.
'Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,' Duggar said in a statement to People at the time. 'I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.'
Following Duggar's 2021 arrest, his sister Jessa and her husband Ben Seewald made a statement saying they were 'saddened' by the news of his federal charges.
'As Christians, we stand against any form of pornography or abuse and we desire for the truth to be exposed, whatever that may be,' the couple wrote in a statement shared to their Instagram accounts. 'Our prayers are with their family as they walk through this difficult time.'
For more details on the Duggar family, keep reading. 40 Years Later...Josh Duggar (m. Anna Keller)
John David Duggar and Jana DuggarJohn David Duggar (m. Abbie-Grace Burnett)Jana Duggar (m. Stephen Wissmann)
Joseph Duggar (m. Kendra Caldwell)Joy & Austin ForsythJedidiah Duggar and Jeremiah DuggarJedidiah Duggar (m. Katey Nakatsu)Jeremiah Duggar (m. Hannah Wissmann)Jason Duggar (m. Maddie Grace)James DuggarJustin Duggar (m. Claire Spivey)
Jennifer Duggar
For free, confidential help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
32 minutes ago
- New York Post
National Park Service announces it will restore, reinstate statue honoring Confederate General Albert Pike
The National Park Service announced Monday that it will be restoring and reinstating a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike. 'The National Park Service announced today that it will restore and reinstall the bronze statue of Albert Pike, which was toppled and vandalized during riots in June 2020,' the Monday announcement from the National Park Service read. 'The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic preservation law as well as recent executive orders to beautify the nation's capital and re-instate pre-existing statues,' it added. On June 19, 2020, also known as Juneteenth, the day that recognizes the end of slavery in the United States, protesters toppled the statue of Pike and set it on fire. Pike, who was a Confederate general in the Civil War, also served as an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. The vandalization occurred during the anti-racism riots that erupted across the country after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The announcement pointed to President Donald Trump's executive orders on 'Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,' and 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.' The orders call for the protection of American monuments, preservation of American history and heritage, and combating the 'revisionist movement.' In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House official Lindsey Halligan said, 'Thank you to the National Park Service for announcing the restoration of the Albert Pike statute after it was unlawfully toppled and vandalized.' Halligan added, 'Erected in 1901 and funded entirely by private Masonic organizations, the statute stood for over a century as a tribute to Pike's contributions as a scholar and Masonic leader. Such action aligns with President Trump's Executive Order 14253, which calls for reinstating monuments removed under ideological pressure. It's encouraging to see our National Park Service stand up for historical preservation, due process, and the rule of law.'
2 hours ago
Brazil's Supreme Court orders house arrest for former President Bolsonaro, a Trump ally
SAO PAULO -- Brazil's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro, on trial for allegedly masterminding a coup plot to remain in office despite his defeat in the 2022 election — a case that has gripped the South American country as it faces a trade war with the Trump administration. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case against Bolsonaro before the top court, said in his decision that the 70-year-old former president had violated precautionary measures imposed on him by spreading content through his three lawmaker sons. Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a statement that he will appeal the decision. They said his words 'good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom" — broadcast from a cell phone of one of his sons during a Sunday protest in Rio de Janeiro — cannot 'be regarded as ignoring precautionary measures or as a criminal act.' The trial of the far-right leader is receiving renewed attention after U.S. President Donald Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his ally's judicial situation. Trump has called the proceedings a ' witch hunt,' triggering nationalist reactions from leaders of all branches of power in Brazil, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Hours after the decision, the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said on X that the Trump administration 'condemns (de) Moraes' order imposing house arrest on Bolsonaro and will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.' 'Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro's ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak!' the U.S. State Department body said. Brazil's government has not commented on the case. Brazil's prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro of heading a criminal organization that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill Lula and Justice de Moraes after the far-right leader narrowly lost his reelection bid in 2022. Monday's order followed one from the top court last month that ordered Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and imposed a curfew on his activities while the proceedings are underway. Following news of the arrest order, a staffer with Brazil's federal police told The Associated Press that federal agents had seized cell phones at Bolsonaro's residence in the capital of Brasilia, as ordered by de Moraes in his decision. The staffer spoke on condition of anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak about the matter publicly. Bolsonaro is expected to remain in Brasilia for his house arrest as he is not allowed to travel. He also has a house in Rio de Janeiro, where he held his electoral base as a lawmaker for three decades. The former army captain is the fourth former president of Brazil to be arrested since the end of the country's military rule from 1964 to 1985, which Bolsonaro supported. The move from the Brazilian justice comes a day after tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters took the streets in the cities of Sao Paulo and Rio, pleading for Brazil's congress to pardon him and hundreds of others who are either under trial or jailed for their roles in the destruction of government buildings in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. On Sunday, Bolsonaro addressed supporters in Rio through the phone of one of his sons, which de Moraes' described as illegal. 'The flagrant disrespect to the precautionary measures was so obvious that the defendant's son, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, decided to remove the posting in his Instagram profile, with the objective of hiding the legal transgression,' de Moraes wrote. Flávio Bolsonaro claimed on X that Brazil 'is officially in a dictatorship' after his father's house arrest. 'The persecution of de Moraes against Bolsonaro has no limits!' the senator wrote. De Moraes added in his ruling that Jair Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, has spread messages with 'a clear content of encouragement and instigation to attacks against the Supreme Court and a blatant support for foreign intervention in the Brazilian Judiciary' — likely a veiled reference to Trump's support for Bolsonaro. De Moraes also said that Bolsonaro 'addressed protesters gathered in Copacabana, in Rio' on Sunday so his supporters could 'try to coerce the Supreme Court.' Last week, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on de Moraes over alleged suppression of freedom of expression regarding Bolsonaro's trial. On Monday, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs called the Brazilian justice 'a U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser' and accused him of using "institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy." De Moraes said in his decision that '(Brazil's) judiciary will not allow a defendant to make a fool out of it." "Justice is the same for all. A defendant who willingly ignores precautionary measures — for the second time — must suffer legal consequences,' he said. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, a political consultancy firm based in Brasilia, said Bolsonaro's house arrest opens a new moment for the country's opposition, which will could gather steam in fighting against Lula's reelection bid next year. Now, de Souza said, 'the 2026 election looks like turmoil' and the political debate in Brazil will likely be split between two key struggles. 'One is the effort of Bolsonaro supporters to keep strong on the right, no matter if it is pushing for amnesty in congress or putting themselves physically out there,' the analyst said. 'The second is how the Lula administration will try to show that the country has a government.' 'This is just the start,' he concluded. The latest decision from the top court keeps Bolsonaro under ankle monitoring, allows only family members and lawyers to visit him and seizes all mobile phones from his home. Lula was imprisoned for 580 days between 2018 and 2019 in a corruption conviction that was later tossed out by the Supreme Court, citing the bias of the judge in the case. Michel Temer, who became president after Dilma Rousseff was impeached in 2016, was arrested for 10 days in 2019 in connection with a graft investigation, which later ended without a conviction. Earlier this year, de Moraes ordered the detention of President Fernando Collor, who was in office from 1990 to 1992 until he was impeached. The 75-year-old former president was convicted for money laundering and corruption in 2023 and is now serving his more than eight-year sentence. Hours after the order, right-wing lawmakers criticized de Moraes' decision and compared Bolsonaro's situation to that of his predecessors. 'House arrest for Jair Bolsonaro by de Moraes. Reason: corruption?' asked lawmaker Nikolas Ferreira. 'No. His kids posted his content on social media. Pathetic.' The far-right leader is already barred from next year's election due to an abuse of power conviction by the country's top electoral court. 'And those who attacked it are about to pay,' Salabert said.
Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Texas dispute highlights nation's long history of partisan gerrymandering. Is it legal?
Who is responsible for gerrymandering? In many states, like Texas, the state legislature is responsible for drawing congressional districts, subject to the approval or veto of the governor. District maps must be redrawn every 10 years, after each census, to balance the population in districts. But in some states, nothing prevents legislatures from conducting redistricting more often. In an effort to limit gerrymandering, some states have entrusted redistricting to special commissions composed of citizens or bipartisan panels of politicians. Democratic officials in some states with commissions are now talking of trying to sidestep them to counter Republican redistricting in Texas. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up How does a gerrymander work? Advertisement If a political party controls both the legislature and governor's office — or has such a large legislative majority that it can override vetoes — it can effectively draw districts to its advantage. One common method of gerrymandering is for a majority party to draw maps that pack voters who support the opposing party into a few districts, thus allowing the majority party to win a greater number of surrounding districts. Another common method is for the majority party to dilute the power of an opposing party's voters by spreading them among multiple districts. Why is it called gerrymandering? The term dates to 1812, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a bill redrawing state Senate districts to benefit the Democratic-Republican Party. Some thought an oddly shaped district looked like a salamander. A newspaper illustration dubbed it 'The Gerry-mander' — a term that later came to describe any district drawn for political advantage. Gerry lost re-election as governor in 1812 but won election that same year as vice president with President James Madison. Advertisement Is political gerrymandering illegal? Not under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a 2019 case originating from North Carolina, ruled that federal courts have no authority to decide whether partisan gerrymandering goes too far. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: 'The Constitution supplies no objective measure for assessing whether a districting map treats a political party fairly.' The Supreme Court noted that partisan gerrymandering claims could continue to be decided in state courts under their own constitutions and laws. But some state courts, including North Carolina's highest court, have ruled that they also have no authority to decide partisan gerrymandering claims. Are there any limits on redistricting? Yes. Though it's difficult to challenge legislative districts on political grounds, the Supreme Court has upheld challenges on racial grounds. In a 2023 case from Alabama, the high court said the congressional districts drawn by the state's Republican-led Legislature likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting strength of Black residents. The court let a similar claim proceed in Louisiana. Both states subsequently redrew their districts. What does data show about gerrymandering? Statisticians and political scientists have developed a variety of ways to try to quantify the partisan advantage that may be attributable to gerrymandering. Republicans, who control redistricting in more states than Democrats, used the 2010 census data to create a strong gerrymander. An Associated Press analysis of that decade's redistricting found that Republicans enjoyed a greater political advantage in more states than either party had in the past 50 years. Advertisement But Democrats responded to match Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census. The adoption of redistricting commissions also limited gerrymandering in some states. An AP analysis of the 2022 elections — the first under new maps — found that Republicans won just one more U.S. House seat than would have been expected based on the average share of the vote they received nationwide. That was one of the most politically balanced outcomes in years.
