Josh Duggar of "19 Kids & Counting" Confesses to Past Sex Abuse Claims // Resigns from Family Research Council

Remember how news broke yesterday that Jim Bob Duggar of TLC's "19 Kids & Counting" had turned his oldest son over to the police following accusations that Josh had been "caught... leaving a young girl's bedroom" and that Jim Bob had "learned something inappropriate happened," but that everything got dropped by investigators because the three-year statute of limitations had passed? And remember how things got so much worse when it was revealed that Josh had actually repeatedly sexually acted out with five different minor girls as far back as 2002 (including more than one of his sisters) and how his family had reported these incidents to their church elders instead of authorities and how the only cop they spoke to was a family friend and how it eventually came down to Oprah Winfrey's staff to report the family to the DHS?

Late this afternoon, Josh Duggar finally spoke out about these accusations and acknowledged that they were true:

Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. 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. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life... I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions... I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. In my life today, I am so very thankful for God's grace, mercy and redemption.

Josh Duggar has resigned from the Family Research Council. So he won't be traveling around anymore telling people how gay people are threats to children... for a while anyway...

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar issued a joint statement:

Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives... When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before... Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family. We have challenges and struggles every day. It is one of the reasons we treasure our faith so much because God's kindness and goodness and forgiveness are extended to us – even though we are so undeserving. We hope somehow the story of our journey – the good times and the difficult times – cause you to see the kindness of God and learn that He can bring you through anything.

Hopefully, this revelation will stop Michelle Duggar from making more robocalls accusing trans women of being "men with past child predator convictions." She dares to make unfounded fear-campaigns about LGBT people when she cannot even protect her own children from... well, her own children.

Meanwhile, TLC has been completely silent about this situation (outside of a Facebook link to this article). Back in October, TLC canceled "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" effective immediately when it was first learned that Mama June Shannon was secretly dating the convicted sex offender who had perped against her oldest daughter. Comparatively, TLC has been airing reruns of "19 Kids & Counting" all evening tonight.

Somehow I don't think this story is going to blow over...